Sébastien Tellier Kiss The Beast
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss The Beast balances theatrical maximalism and continental popcraft to uneven but often thrilling effect, with critics divided on whether its excesses amount to daring reinvention or indulgent whimsy. Across six professional reviews that produced a 64/100 consensus score, reviewers repeatedly poi
The best song, "Loup", is best because its dramatic genre switches and epic ending encapsulate Tellier's pop subversion.
The album's core strength is its fearless maximalism and theatrical experimentation, which produce compelling but sometimes unresolved moments.
Best for listeners looking for pop subversion and genre-mixing, starting with Refresh and Thrill of the Night.
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Full consensus notes
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss The Beast balances theatrical maximalism and continental popcraft to uneven but often thrilling effect, with critics divided on whether its excesses amount to daring reinvention or indulgent whimsy. Across six professional reviews that produced a 64/100 consensus score, reviewers repeatedly point to moments where Tellier's taste for orchestral disco, chanson-inflected melody and synth-driven glam cohere into clear highlights rather than a uniformly successful record.
Critics consistently single out “Thrill of the Night” and “Loup” as standout tracks, alongside praise for the title cut “Kiss the Beast” and collaborators such as the guest turns on “Amnesia” and the Daft Punk-tinged single “Refresh”. Beats Per Minute and Clash Music celebrate the record's pop subversion and layered arrangements, noting Nile Rodgers' clarifying touch on “Thrill of the Night”. AllMusic foregrounds the clash of glamour and unease that animates the best songs, while Record Collector frames the album as a restored mojo moment thanks to bold production choices.
At the same time, some reviewers register frustration: Far Out calls parts of the record baffling and overly sultry, and The Arts Desk emphasizes Tellier's recent public activity and career persistence more than consistent songwriting triumphs. The critical consensus suggests Kiss The Beast will reward listeners who seek maximal, genre-mixing pop moments and want to know what critics say about the record's best songs, even as others may find its theatrical excesses uneven. For readers asking whether Kiss The Beast is worth attention, the answer rests on appetite for flamboyant production and the standout tracks that critics most often cite.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Refresh
1 mention
"Lead single Refresh takes the right sort of risks"— Record Collector
Thrill of the Night
5 mentions
"Then there’s "Thrill of the Night", a recent single that featuring Slayyyter on vocals and Nile Rodgers on guitar."— Beats Per Minute
Loup
3 mentions
"Elsewhere, ‘Loup’ stands as a defining statement, shifting between chanson, psychedelic funk, and a spanish guitar with fearless abandon"— Clash Music
Then there’s "Thrill of the Night", a recent single that featuring Slayyyter on vocals and Nile Rodgers on guitar.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Kiss the Beast
Naïf de Coeur
Refresh
Mouton
Thrill of the Night
Romantic
Parfum Diamant
Copycat
Animale
Amnesia
Loup
Un Dimanche en Famille
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 6 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier returns with Kiss The Beast, an album where the best songs - notably “Loup” and “Thrill of the Night” - exemplify his knack for pop subversion. The review voice admires how layered arrangements make apparently odd combinations cohere, praising the way “Kiss the Beast” and “Loup” switch moods yet hold together. There is an approving sense that these tracks prove Tellier can marry chanson, funk and dance-floor savvy without losing elegance. Overall the reviewer positions these as the album's standout moments and the clearest answers to queries about the best tracks on Kiss The Beast.
Key Points
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The best song, "Loup", is best because its dramatic genre switches and epic ending encapsulate Tellier's pop subversion.
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The album's core strengths are layered arrangements, genre-mixing, and sophisticated dance-floor sensibilities.
Themes
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss the Beast finds its best songs in moments where glamour and unease collide, notably “Kiss the Beast” and “Thrill of the Night”. The title track flutters with animal instinct - closer to a butterfly kiss than a bear hug - while “Thrill of the Night” and “Copycat” inject urgency into Tellier's sleek synth pop. Overall, the best tracks on Kiss the Beast are those that let Tellier's instincts run wild without abandoning his polished touch.
Key Points
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The title track stands out by pairing delicate imagery with animal instinct, making it the album's emotional center.
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Kiss the Beast's core strength is its blend of sleek synth-pop glamour and darker, unsettled currents that let Tellier take risks.
Themes
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss The Beast rewards patience, and the best songs - notably “Thrill of the Night” and “Loup” - crystallise his risky charms. Melvin Boateng writes with relish about Tellier's theatrical maximalism, praising the clarity Nile Rodgers brings to “Thrill of the Night” while celebrating the unruly, fluid sweep of “Loup”. Ultimately, this is an album that favours momentum and daring over tidy resolution, and its best songs make that case convincingly.
Key Points
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The album's core strength is its fearless maximalism and theatrical experimentation, which produce compelling but sometimes unresolved moments.
Themes
Th
Critic's Take
In a clipped, slightly sardonic register Guy Oddy notes that Sébastien Tellier has not been idle, and that on Kiss The Beast the record arrives after three film soundtracks and two EPs. He frames the album amid Tellier's public activities - the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games performance and an irritating identity-theft episode - suggesting the context matters as much as the songs themselves.
Key Points
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The reviewer implies there is no clear single best song; the album is notable for Tellier's continued output and activities.
Themes
Fa
Critic's Take
Listen, I am aware this is going to sound very small-minded of me, but on Kiss The Beast the best moments are the collaborators - “Thrill of the Night” and “Amnesia” - which at least steer Sébastien Tellier toward disco and R&B textures. Lauren Hunter's voice here is exasperated and mordant, noting that the titular “Kiss The Beast” is palatable if plain while much of the album wanders into baffling, overly sultry territory. The record's flashes of life come from those guest turns rather than Tellier's penchant for bizarre sound effects, which too often tip into cheesiness.
Key Points
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The best song moments are the collaborations - “Thrill of the Night” shines for its disco energy.
Themes
Re
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier sounds restored on Kiss The Beast, a welcome comeback after the disappointing vibes of 2020’s record. The reviewer praises the lead single “Refresh” as an exciting electro-pop number that takes risks and evokes Daft Punk, marking it among the best songs on Kiss The Beast. They also single out “Thrill of the Night” for its big, irresistible production and star turns, making it another top track. The overall tone is that Tellier has got his mojo back, largely thanks to bold production collaborations rather than timid songwriting.
Key Points
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The lead single “Refresh” is the album's best song because it takes risks and revives Tellier's electro-pop energy.
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The album's core strength is its bold production collaborations which restore Tellier's mojo.