A Creature I Don't Know - Laura Marling
User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22

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  1. LuizCC
    Jan 13, 2012
    9
    With a voice of an angel, her beautiful lyrics, Marling proves herself again as one of the biggest UK singers nowadays. This album is strong, confident, and a little bit experimental, and she nailed to mix it and have one of the best albums of the past year, with extraordinary songs like "Sophia" and "Night After Night", and proves her improvement in each CD.
  2. ramona
    Sep 17, 2011
    10
    It's fascinating how Laura's music have improved throughout the years. The sweet and mellow melodies of her youth were left behind to impose this marvellous and strong woman. Opening with the defying "The Muse" with a beat that will make feel you're in the middle of the country-side surrounded by nature, she then slows down in "Don't ask Me Why". One of the highlights of this album for me is "The Beast" a song in which in the beginning the guitar is barely listened and then energy starts slowly to grow and grow and an electric guitar is added in a magnificent way, (an instrument that Laura generally doesn't use in her songs). And meanwhile, she sings in a deep and dark voice "tonight he lies with me, tonight he lies with me, and here comes the beast". In all the album you'll hear interspersed soft songs with powerful ones, and she finally gives an end to the album bringing back Country music, in a song that it's outstanding: "All My Rage". Be good to yourself and go and buy this album. You won't regret it.… Expand
  3. GabroMuzik
    Sep 22, 2011
    10
    She is only 21 years and her voice sounds like a great "old" singer...
    A Creature I Don't Know is a masterpiece, is a more mature album (musically and lyrically)
    Laura is lovely in every aspect and she is moving toward a new sound, unbroken, stormy and peaceful, She sounds better between darkness and innocence...
    The Beast, Sophia, Salinas and Don't Ask Me Why...highly recommend!!!
    Sincere    ly she is amazing...nothing to add...the best album of the year...!!!… Expand
  4. jimmytancredi
    Dec 31, 2011
    8
    It takes a while to grow on you, but the new album is really remarkable. Almost as good as her first two or even better for myself once you lean to love it's bitterness. i love how lyrics express some kind of transition in her life .. from a child and sweet girl in love in Alas to a mature woman in this album. How can a 21 year old make an album that is beyond many others that have been making music for decades. she truly is a brilliant songwriter. In some years Laura will be considered one of the best singer songwriters ever to grace this planet.… Expand
  5. heroman
    Nov 5, 2011
    10
    Perfection is the only word to describe this young talent girl and this album shows that it's not a lie!!! She is amazing, this is album is a mixture of dark and innocence, and i love it!
  6. louistn2010
    Nov 25, 2011
    9
    Laura Marling's I SPEAK BECAUSE I CAN was a rambling testimony to growing in maturity and knowledge, A CREATURE I DON'T KNOW is her masterpiece, turning in a new, but not completely unfamiliar territory. THE MUSE, an uptempo, light hearted entry to the album sets a jazzy, smokey feel. I WAS JUSR A CARD, a whist full, fleeting touch back to some of what made I SPEAK... .DON'T ASK ME WHY pulls the masses together and explains WHY the world is what it is. SALINAS, one of the albums highlights, where Marling tries out an American rock-y side which she pulls off completely. THE BEAST, the magnificent 6 minute center piece that winds through a dark tale of suicide and depression filled with electric guitar and Marling's unflinching lyric and tone. NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is a Cohen-esque song about the erosion of the human mind and soul. MY FRIENDS, a folky charge through choices and changes is a memorable creation, one of the albums best. REST IN THE BED is a celtic-y, slightly dark, slow idea, rest in the bed of my bones rambles Marling, joined by a series of eerie siren sounds. SOPHIA, a highlight of Marling's career is another American rock-y country-ish masterpiece about the goddess of wisdom, Sophia. Finally, any pent up rage Marling has sung about is released in the peasant-y ALL MY RAGE where Marling touches on an english wife singing about the sacrifices and furies in her life. All in all A CREATURE... is Marling's best album, the darkest and most powerful in its content, highlights are SALINAS, THE BEAST, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, REST IN THE BED and SOPHIA but there are no bad songs, like I SPEAK... there is nothing to complain about but this is slightly deeper, darker, a spiralling fairy tale that leaves Marling with a completely new route, but still gives her the folk that makes her one of the most talented singers today!… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. No Ripcord
    Jan 3, 2012
    90
    It's the album that makes her the comparative standpoint in her own right--suggesting subtly that she may one day be the talismanic songstress for her own generation.
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  2. PopMatters
    Nov 1, 2011
    80
    It's safe to say her new album is another fascinating, furiously beautiful work that maintains her position as England's reigning folk princess.
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  3. Delusions of Adequacy
    Sep 28, 2011
    70
    Whilst the overall the artistic advancement is decidedly impressive for such a fledgling talent, Marling does at times sell herself a little short on the lyrical and vocal front.
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