a ghost is born
by Wilco
  • Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Jun 22, 2004
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Trouser Press
    40
    A Ghost Is Born is a textbook example of an album created to fulfill expectations the band doesn't necessarily share.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    It's like Scissor Sisters on tranquilisers. With a bit of ELO. And a dash of Ramones. And, with this eclecticism, a worrying lack of focus. [5 Jun 2004, p.57]
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  3. Blender
    60
    On initial listen, the album is rather monotonous, a bunch of moderately singable tunes with some noise piled up around the edges.... After the fifth or twentieth listen, however, A Ghost Is Born starts to insinuate meaning. [#27, p.132]
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  5. Alternative Press
    60
    It's important that albums like Ghost exist--but unfortunately, those albums don't always make the most enjoyable listens. [Aug 2004, p.116]
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Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best Album of 2004
26
#26 Most Discussed Album of 2004
31
#31 Most Shared Album of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 140 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 130 out of 140
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 140
  3. Negative: 5 out of 140
  1. Boosemo12
    Jun 4, 2011
    7
    It definitely doesn't hold a candle to YHF, there's some great moments but it lacks consistency.
  2. All_ButTrU4
    May 20, 2022
    6
    Never reaching the highs of Yankee foxtrot hotel Wilco foster the captivating peaks of their debut "summerteeth". It's a spacious record thatNever reaching the highs of Yankee foxtrot hotel Wilco foster the captivating peaks of their debut "summerteeth". It's a spacious record that matures in the silent spaces between delicate moments of muted sadness… Full Review »
  3. Ricko
    Nov 9, 2015
    7
    It took me quite a while to get into "A Ghost is Born". While I still think it is a few steps below their best moments, repeated listening hasIt took me quite a while to get into "A Ghost is Born". While I still think it is a few steps below their best moments, repeated listening has changed my mind from thinking this was an average album to thinking it is a very good one.While parts of it are disappointing, this is mainly down to self indulgence on the part of the band rather than poor content. There are some good moments and some great moments but a little too often the person in charge of editing has left the room and the band are allowed to flog songs the way you would a dead horse. A couple of the tracks are 25 percent longer than they ever needed to be. "At Least That's What You Said" and "Hell Is Chrome" start the album well, but the rest of the album could have been alot better and crosses the line into self indulgence. There are better Wilco records but you could be listening to far worse.… Full Review »
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