At Metacritic , which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[ 4]
Paul Carr of PopMatters gave the album 7 out of 10 stars, calling it "N.O.W's strongest and most cohesive album since the imperious In a Space Outta Sound ."[ 9] Katie Hawthorne of The Skinny gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "You'll feel like you've heard these songs on the breeze before, or snatched them from the window of a passing car, but you couldn't have caught them without Nightmares on Wax's expert navigation."[ 11]
Title 1. "Back to Nature" (featuring Kuauhtli Vasquez and Wixarika Tribe) 7:36 2. "Tell My Vision" (featuring Andrew Ashong ) 4:14 3. "Shape the Future" 6:18 4. "On It Maestro" 4:15 5. "Tomorrow" (featuring LSK ) 4:30 6. "Typical" (featuring Jordan Rakei ) 4:40 7. "Tenor Fly" 2:41 8. "Citizen Kane" (featuring Mozez ) 4:00 9. "Deep Shadows" (featuring Sadie Walker) 3:57 10. "Gotta Smile" 6:44 11. "The Other Ship" 4:07
Digital edition bonus track Title 12. "Citizen Kane (Rap Version)" (featuring Allan Kingdom and Mozez) 4:09
Japanese CD edition bonus tracks Title 12. "World Inside" (featuring Andrew Ashong) 9:06 13. "Citizen Kane (Rap Version)" (featuring Allan Kingdom and Mozez) 4:09
^ Polk, Leilani (7 June 2018). "Nightmares on Wax Is Gonna Get the Bodies Moving and Grooving at Nectar Lounge Tonight" . The Stranger . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Hawthorn, Carlos (2 November 2017). "Nightmares On Wax reveals new album, Shape The Future" . Resident Advisor . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ a b "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2 September 2019.
^ a b "Shape the Future by Nightmares on Wax" . Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Kellman, Andy. "Shape the Future - Nightmares on Wax" . AllMusic . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Keating, Daryl (23 January 2018). "Nightmares On Wax Shape the Future" . Exclaim! . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Carabine, Dan (26 January 2018). "Nightmares on Wax's eighth studio album is an ambitious, genre-spanning project" . The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Hogwood, Ben (26 January 2018). "Nightmares On Wax – Shape The Future" . MusicOMH . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ a b Carr, Paul (30 January 2018). "Nightmares on Wax Has Environmental and Spiritual Concerns on 'Shape the Future' " . PopMatters . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Tantum, Bruce (31 January 2018). "Nightmares On Wax - Shape The Future" . Resident Advisor . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ a b Hawthorne, Katie (23 January 2018). "Nightmares on Wax – Shape the Future" . The Skinny . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ Bromfield, Daniel (31 January 2018). "Nightmares on Wax: Shape the Future" . Spectrum Culture . Retrieved 2 September 2019 .
^ "Ultratop.be – Nightmares On Wax – Shape The Future" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 September 2019.