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Uncut

The qualities that once made The Verve the nation's top anthemists are recognisably intact on this new effort, from its stately pace to its burnished sense of grandeur. [Feb 2006, p.70]

musicOMH.com

His voice sounds better than ever, and while nothing here recaptures the glory years of The Verve, his songs are more focused than ever before.

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Q Magazine

Rarely has he sung this well. [Feb 2006, p.99]

Slant Magazine

For the most part, Keys To The World is a definite step forward and demonstrates that Ashcroft is finally hitting his stride as a solo artist.

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Under The Radar

What both sinks and saves the album is Ashcroft's songwriting. [#13, p.90]

All Music Guide

Not terribly different [from 'Human Conditions'], though certainly more pastoral and perhaps more middle of the road.

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Drowned In Sound

A deeply personal, occasionally lifeless but equally insightful passage into the latest chapter of Richard Ashcroft's life story.

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New Musical Express

What compensates for 'Keys To The World''s shortcomings... is that voice. [21 Jan 2006, p.33]

Prefix Magazine

Keys to the World does have a few great moments, but it's not the definitive solo record he's been promising.

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Mojo

Very focused and quietly anthemic. [Feb 2006, p.92]

Spin

More corny than convincing. [May 2006, p.91]

PopMatters

Sure it’s full of unwavering confidence and some pretty songs, but the dull groove Richard Ashcroft seems to have settled into is striking.

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NOW Magazine

His voice is bland and has little variety.

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The Guardian

Give or take the odd tweak - a Bittersweet Symphony-ish orchestral sample on Music Is Power, some dated-sounding world music influence on the title track - Keys to the World sticks fast to the blueprint: soft-rock plod, songs that abandon verses and choruses in favour of dragging out a simple chord sequence to the point of distraction.

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Rolling Stone

In trying to wrest profundity from simplicity, Keys to the World is only profoundly disappointing.

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Playlouder

Too much is sodden with his overbearing ego.

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Dot Music

How the mighty have truly fallen.

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Pitchfork

Swept up in maudlin strings and chintzy brass, Ashcroft blurs his anguished syllables like Tom Petty doing Bob Dylan, embraces U2-jerkoff bombast, and follows his idiosyncratically generic muse into uncharted depths. Keys to the World is as hilariously indulgent as "Trapped in the Closet", if vastly less self-aware; it's also a more laughable satire of contemporary music than Bang Bang Rock 'n' Roll, though less durable and totally accidental.

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Billboard

[Ashcroft] possesses one of the definitive rock voices and has an undeniable gift for melody, but he pairs those talents here with truly insipid lyrics and uninspired MOR arrangements.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 55 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Marc A gave it a9:
A great and simple album from Richard Ashcroft.

Jack T gave it an8:
Since anybody can be a critic, i decided to write one of my one. And i just wanna say Richard Ashcroft is a genius. Three solo albums prove it plus his The Verve time. He has the voice, the lyrics and the melodies. Critics just don't like him because he lost the name "The Verve". But, Ashcroft is and walwys will be The Verve. Anyway, remember the critics from Rolling Stone gave Eminem 5 stars.

david c gave it a10:
fantasic. brilliant laid back enjoyable music

abacus gave it an8:
It's odd that people in America haven't heard Ashcroft since Bittersweet Symphony. They should. Very good album overall.

Delroy F gave it a2:
less than average attempt saviour of rock...haha yeah right

Mike K gave it a10:
Great singer and nice songs with creative arangements. A little eccentric but thats what music needs.

Maciej W gave it an8:
Nothing life-changing but he's got some truly pretty tunes here and, despite what others have said, some of the vocals are personal and relative to what many are likely feeling. Great chill-out listen or a nice evening with a date.

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Keys To The World

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