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Alice
by
Alice Image
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 49 Ratings

  • Summary: One of two Waits releases in May 2002 ('Blood Money' is the other), 'Alice' was originally written as an opera and actually performed live during an 18-month engagement in Hamburg in the early 1990s. However, this is the first recording of these 15 tracks, culled from recent studio sessions.

Top Track

Creature Feature
Oh creature feature! Welcome to this world Nothing's gonna bring you... down Oh creature feature! I offer up my hands, twist them and turn them...... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Uncut
    100
    Waits does nothing predictable here, and the structure of even the most forlorn tear-jerker is ambitious and avant-something-or-other. [Co-Album Of The Month, June 2002, p.106]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Launch.com
    100
    The sheer melodic gorgeousness of the finest songs here make Alice the pick of Waits's new matched set.
  3. Pitchfork
    90
    While the rest of pop culture infantilizes itself with cussing puppets and manufactured bands who willfully dangle like marionettes, Waits is serving up vintage brittle fusion and somehow breaking the law of diminishing returns. [Review of both Alice and Blood Money]
  4. Blender
    80
    After decades, Waits's theater of musical cruelty is familiar stuff. But the old dog's tricks still have bite. [Applies to both Alice and Blood Money, Jun/Jul 2002, p.111]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Nude As The News
    80
    The album's songs do not attack you with bombast but rather smother you in a slow burn, like gathering frost suffocating a mournful shut-in.
  6. CultureDose.net
    80
    While there is nothing new on Alice, the songs he develops are well-structured, elegant and as bawl-worthy as ever.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    It’s a shimmering, mournful gem.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. TomL.
    Oct 5, 2002
    10
    One of the greatest albums ever made! Pure genius!
  2. ScottR.
    Jun 4, 2002
    10
    Top-notch whiskey! What the hell does kommiezuspadt mean?
  4. RichardP
    Dec 2, 2006
    10
    Simply the greatest and most moving album i have ever had the pleasure to listen to.
  5. FEAR
    Mar 7, 2004
    10
    best CD ever
  6. GrantD
    Mar 18, 2006
    10
    Unlike almost every other artist, this man gets better as he gets older. He is better than Jesus.
  7. DanielT
    May 22, 2006
    10
    This is indeed an unusual output from Toom Wiats, somehow underrated after its release and definately requires some patience whilst This is indeed an unusual output from Toom Wiats, somehow underrated after its release and definately requires some patience whilst digesting. Still many of the songs are remarkeably well-written, and the overall result is excellent. One of the best albums from the "third period" of Tom Waits' music output. Notice 'Kommienezuspadt' and 'Poor Edward' in particular. The two songs sum up much of either side of his remarkeable musicianship.… Collapse
  8. JimL
    Apr 4, 2006
    2
    Too dificult to enjoy.

See all 17 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Album of 2002
56
#56 Most Discussed Album of 2002
21
#21 Most Shared Album of 2002