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Wildflower

EMAILPRINTby Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow reviews
63
8.3 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 29 votes
Read user comments
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Album Info

Label: A&M

Release Date: 27 September 2005

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Adult Alternative

Summary

This is the singer's first album in three years.

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...

90

Amazon.com

Wildflower moves Sheryl Crow one step closer to Hall of Fame status.

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80

All Music Guide

The album seems to be one of her most consistent records and one of her best.

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80

Billboard

A provocative, richly rewarding set reflecting love and life changes. [1 Oct 2005]

70

The New York Times

Along with glimmering guitars, she brings on the strings. She risks turning doubly pompous when she combines cosmic thoughts and big baroque production. Most of the time, Ms. Crow gets away with it. [26 Sep 2005]

70

musicOMH.com

When Wildflower works, it works beautifully.

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70

Blender

Wildflower is assiduously intimate: lushly orchestrated, strictly mid-tempo and abundant with musings about balancing freedom and love. [Oct 2005, p.136]

70

Slant Magazine

Crow typically does "melancholy" with panache, so more's the pity that Wildflower often sounds outright dull.

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70

Uncut

Wildflower is more satisfying, less self-consciously searching for radio-friendliness [than C'Mon C'mon]. [Nov 2005, p.100]

63

Los Angeles Times

It all shows Crow as smart and mature. But the giddy-kid part of her is missed. [25 Sep 2005]

60

Paste Magazine

A collection of introspective songs that's heavy on the flower and hardly wild. [Dec 2005, p.107]

60

Prefix Magazine

Throughout the album, Crow's vocal melodies are her most ambitious and memorable to date.

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60

Q Magazine

There are moments of genuine heartbreak amid the musty gloom. [Oct 2005, p.115]

60

Rolling Stone

It's not just that the album would be more fun if it rocked harder; all too often on these songs she's straining for high notes or stranded in an arrangement that leaves her voice sounding breathy and reedy

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60

Mojo

Almost every track plays nice sweet-and-sour tricks on the ears. But maximum, piercingly intelligent, heartfelt Crow comes through only in Sending A Letter To God. [Oct 2005, p.98]

58

Entertainment Weekly

Her fondness for overblown L.A.-rock cliches undercuts the intimacy she's after; the music sounds homogenized. [7 Oct 2005, p.77]

30

The Guardian

It's all too dull to make anyone care but Crow.

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30

PopMatters

Where Wildflower fails is in almost everything.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 29 User Votes

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

ixat a gave it a5:
im sory.. this one is dull.. the songs sound the same from a 'helicopter view' of the album.. fortunately, good is good saves the lbum from being rated 1 by me.

cédric 26, from france gave it a10:
This album is one of the best albums i ' ve ever listened to . And yet i listen to much music (particularly 60's & 70's music) .What stroke me is the very purity of the sounds and the voice . Thanks Sheryl !

Tim C gave it a9:
I think this album is fantastic, not her most chart friendly but thats refreshing after "soak up the sun".The whole album is moving and i think anyone who has been through a bad break up would understand the tenderness of "Always on your side" which i feel is by far one of her best works to date. "Chances are" is also a great track, but at times the album does move a bit too slowly, but its an introspective record and thats especially good for the autumn and to drive to, so I think this album is great and the critics were way too harsh!

Rev. Rikard gave it a7:
Recently Crow has been accused of abandoning rock for country. Her duo with Kid Rock was probably the initial spark that started the rumor. However, as an aside, I think the rumor says more about the current state of country than the music of Crow. Country has more blatantly uprooted itself AGAIN, attempting to appeal to a pop-oriented audience. Still, this album does little to help Crow shed the cloak of this rumor. A lover of modern country would adore this album, and that is fine with me. However, there are some of us that believe Crow is at her best when she rocks. I have to agree with the LA Times critique. Wildflower reveals to us a mature, thoughtful artist. Every artist needs to navigate this necessary passage; but accepting maturity, born from an evergrowing array of life-experiences, does not mean the playful child within has to be put to bed. Wildflower lacks the "kid playing with fire." When Crow picks up her guitar, playing and singing as one fully alive, hitting on all cylinders, few rock us better. Someone wake her up, we need her!

john w gave it an8:
A great, great album with gorgeous arrangements and perfect songs. None of the good-time party songs found on previous releases (except "Live it Up"), but they'd be out of place here. She's never been in better voice than on "Always on your Side"

Teresa O gave it a10:
I've never owned a Sheryl Crow CD before, but I absolutely had to have this one. I guess you have to be 40(ish) to really appreciate it. I think the critics are too harsh. Every artist grows as they go along. Their art changes with them. Wildflower is truly beautiful.

Clint S gave it a9:
This album talks about issues one struggles to deal with from time to time and several songs are trying to pry open our eyes to issues we should be dealing with. This album, like many mature artists' albums speak from the heart with exceptional poetry instead of spelling it out to the listener. Listen to the words, not just the rhythm. Crow again surpasses other artists and keeps rock alive for at least a little longer...

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