A Healthy Distrust
by Sage Francis
  • Record Label: Epitaph
  • Release Date: Feb 8, 2005
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 3 out of 34

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  1. BIGMAN22
    Feb 29, 2016
    10
    another great album by an awesome artist. great production and ill lyrics.. this is just awesome as personal journals. met the man in person. very nice dude. classic
  2. RichardH
    May 15, 2007
    10
    An absolute classic. I can still listen to this disk all the way through without skipping a single track. This disk 'bottles' Sage's stage presence better than any of his other studio efforts. Forget that he's a 'white rapper', his flow is lava and you can't deny it.
  3. Jeremy
    Sep 15, 2005
    10
    "Contemporary house of pain" - who the ef is this clown? Unfortunately those who cannot think for themselves talk far too much. Thanks again sage.
  4. Mike
    Sep 15, 2005
    10
    Album is great. Exactly what I look for in my music, expression.
  5. MichaelH
    Aug 9, 2005
    9
    good album, his older stuff is still better
  6. JuicyBerry
    Jul 27, 2005
    10
    Lyrically superb, with some awesome beats and heavy, heavy basslines!!
  7. Doof
    May 29, 2005
    9
    Amazing lyrics and cool blend of hip-hop and rock. Definitely better than the 76 it got.
  8. trent
    Apr 15, 2005
    9
    Those who feel that Sage is 2005's version of House of Pain probably have an outdated prejudice against white hip-hop artists. Sage's lyrics communicate to the American public an emotion that both liberal and conservatives have felt from 9/11 to 2005, angst! Angst is not an emotion that is only associated with one's teenage years. The possibility of a draft make teenagers Those who feel that Sage is 2005's version of House of Pain probably have an outdated prejudice against white hip-hop artists. Sage's lyrics communicate to the American public an emotion that both liberal and conservatives have felt from 9/11 to 2005, angst! Angst is not an emotion that is only associated with one's teenage years. The possibility of a draft make teenagers and their PARENTS anxious and so on. This album, lyrically is a shocking, emotional and overall moving critique of post 9/11-and possibly pre-Iraq draft American society. Sage's masterful lyrics gracefully interweave complex figurative language with honest moral, and political convictions. Had the beats been produced by the likes of El-P, Prefuse 73, and RJD2, this album might have been both an emo rap and progressive hip-hop classic, dissassociating Sage with the almost-ethnocentritic Anticon collective. If Sage keeps writing fantasic lyrics, somebody with prestige in the progressive hip-hop community will pick up on Sage sooner or later. El-P might praise Sage for his political insights and knowledge of hip-hop. This might lead to a Sage/Kweli collaboration on a Prefuse 73 album. Unlike Ghostface and El-P, Kweli and Sage might actually record their vocals in the same room. How progressive would that be ? Or El-P might criticize him for being too spoken wordish. If that happens, Sage might be unjustly perceived as a contemporary of the hyperlexic Sole who thinks that rambling is a plausible style of rapping. No matter what happens, Sage will probably be the brilliant MC, poet personal journalist and social commentator that he is now.… Expand
  9. MikeE
    Apr 13, 2005
    6
    Contemporary House of Pain. I think this review sums it up best, "If you're over 25, then expect to find yourself peering at your old teen angst like some sort of barely remembered dream."
  10. RamsP
    Mar 27, 2005
    10
    Great
  11. BenU
    Mar 19, 2005
    10
    i dont no what dans talkin about, sick beats and amazin lyrics like alaways, the samples were sick. nothin better then a harmonica in hip-hop
  12. Scott
    Mar 14, 2005
    10
    Seriously one of the best albums of the year. All the complaints about flow and beats are total bunk. Sage is one of the most important figures in hip hop today. An incredible emcee that could hold his own with the best, and who isn't afraid to point fingers. Yeah, it's not happy or uplifting, but that doesn't matter when the lyrics are this good. I urge you to find someone Seriously one of the best albums of the year. All the complaints about flow and beats are total bunk. Sage is one of the most important figures in hip hop today. An incredible emcee that could hold his own with the best, and who isn't afraid to point fingers. Yeah, it's not happy or uplifting, but that doesn't matter when the lyrics are this good. I urge you to find someone with better lyrics that sells more records. You will not find one, they read like a novel. Even if you don't enjoy hip hop you should at least give it a try, it's not conventional and it just appeal to you. Give it a listen.… Expand
  13. Dan
    Mar 10, 2005
    6
    ill lyrics, terrible beats, terrible samples. pales in comparison to personal journals.
  14. jessican
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    this guy is one of the best artist i no
  15. SinsearH
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    Sage is Hands down one of the best rappers of all time. He has grabbed a piece of Hip Hop history! Also this rob guy giving Sage the ratinjg of a 2. I also met Sage and your just jealous piece if shit fuck U!
  16. ArthurR
    Mar 3, 2005
    9
    Great album, slightly better then Personal Journals.
  17. myself
    Mar 2, 2005
    8
    Something about his voice and style just keep drawing me back to his music. That said, I could do with a little less angst and more precision in the flow.
  18. DannyJ
    Feb 28, 2005
    10
    Never been this ill...
  19. AnimationBeats
    Feb 25, 2005
    10
    ok this is a ten, dude is out of control once again . me and all the homies agree that this is one dope disk. iighth 10's across the board
  20. DaveS
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    I don't understand how anyone can honestly sit down and listen to Sage Francis and not recognize this guys dedication and persistance on every project he takes on.Without a doubt one of the most lyrically gifted emcees who would have no problem handing in "chart toppers" ass to him on a platter.
  21. rob
    Feb 17, 2005
    2
    sage francis is a massive tool. he needs to stop crying and pretending that he's a rapper. i've met the guy, total wuss and he heckles and says things like, "since i'm the only guy in the room with a record deal...." needs to grow up personally and then maybe he can make another good album.
  22. FredrikF
    Feb 10, 2005
    10
    The best record of 2005. Simple as that.
  23. AlanR
    Feb 9, 2005
    10
    You have to have a mental disability to like 50 Cent and hate this. This is important.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Blender
    70
    His fire-and-brimstone confessionals are as complex as they are venomous. [Mar 2005, p.140]
  2. PopMatters
    80
    Sage transcends genre limitations and expectations with restless energy and poetic turns of phrase that keep his mystery (or, arguably, his lack of defined answers) intriguing rather than irritating.
    Read full review
  3. Billboard
    80
    There are certain instances when Francis' politics overreach, like on the annoying "Dance Monkey,” but for the most part, “A Healthy Distrust” is this artist's most impressive album yet.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »