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The Spinning Top
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 9 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 2 votes
Read user comments
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Album Info
Label: Transgressive
Release Date: 11 May 2009
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock, Indie
Summary
Blur's Graham Coxon releases his seventh solo album, produced by Stephen Street.
Also By This Artist: Crow Sit On Blood Tree Happiness In Magazines Love Travels At Illegal Speeds The Golden D The Kiss of Morning
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Blur: 13 Blur: The Best Of Blur Blur: Think Tank
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
New Musical Express
It’s sickeningly impressive. Yes, Coxon’s stormed through the Davey Graham Advanced Finger-Picking Guide but he hasn’t forgotten to flip it over and write some of his best ever songs.
Read Full Review >Uncut
The Spinning Top, a really very enjoyable record, displays some of the finest aspects of the guitarist’s talents, but chief among them, those that pertain to Coxon the folkie, and acoustic guitar stylist.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
With only the confidence that kind of young, pure, unambiguous love can provide, he felt comfortable enough to produce one of his most honest, unabashed, unpretentious, and downright joyful records.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
Indulgent though it may be, it's easily his best. And despite an unfeasibly craggy production job, the rambling arrangements and recurrent references to nature and the elemental give it the feel of a dusty, long lost prog-folk curio.
Read Full Review >musicOMH.com
Once again produced by Stephen Street, Coxon has created a work full of guileless charm with a deceptive simplicity that masks some intricate musicianship, while its English pastoral ambience is interleaved with some more exotic influences.
Read Full Review >Observer Music Monthly
Though the guitarist has flirted with folk before (notably on 2001's "Crow Sit on Blood Tree") never has he done so with such inventiveness or, as 'Look Into the Light' and 'In the Morning' illustrate, such charm.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Graham Coxon has left behind his early Jam-meets-Syd-meets-Billy Childish thrashings and his more petulant little-boy-lost vocals, and recorded an album seemingly inspired by Paul Weller's "22 Dreams." [Jun 2009, p.98]
Pitchfork
Street produces again, and Robyn Hitchcock is among the guests, but even they can't make up for repetitive, one-dimensional songs--mostly sleepy folk, occasionally fuzzy psych.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Too many of Coxon's conceptual songs are crucified on the cross of his man-child voice, neither weird enough to beguile nor strong enough to hold your attention. [Jun 2009, p.124]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
