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Alternative Press

He rhymes like a champ. [Jun 2007, p.160]

RapReviews.com

Francis is on a level where even next shit is two steps behind.

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Filter

You can call it emo or you can call it hip-hop, but you have to call it some kind of wonderful. [#25, p.94]

Urb

Its tracks work together to form a cohesive, incredibly personal whole. [May 2007, p.91]

Playlouder

Lyrically, it's astounding as ever.

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NOW Magazine

The weird, nuanced Rhode Island-based MC burns his references, punchlines and cold truths through a batch of X-acto-sharp beats, focusing his strong opinions, sense of imagery and lyrical abstraction inward.

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All Music Guide

Human the Death Dance may be his most personal effort, but it's also an incredibly well-built full-length -- even when it borrows from a handful of genres -- and it's arguably his best lyrical effort, undoubtedly his best production-wise.

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Pitchfork

The old Francis, the quirky, quipping storyteller, triumphantly returns on Human the Death Dance... to his unique blend of diaristic, down-to-earth meditations, eerie soundscapes, and loopy abstraction.

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Sputnikmusic

Human the Death Dance may not be perfect and perhaps not even an improvement for fans, but regardless, it's full of wonderful moments that should satisfy fans and serve as a great introduction for newcomers.

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Billboard

Much of "Human the Death Dance" goes for something deeper—the sound of an artist afraid of what he almost became. [12 May 2007]

Boston Globe

He's still one of the most enjoyable lyricists in hip-hop, and he successfully communicates what he's feeling in a dark and enlightening fashion.

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Drowned In Sound

Human The Death Dance is a little too boastful, a little too obvious; the subtleties that made Francis’ previous offering so enjoyable and provided it with plenty of longevity have dissipated somewhat.

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PopMatters

As a primer, a first Sage Francis purchase, it’s fine; in light of his previous achievements, less so.

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cokemachineglow

By now, Sage Francis is emo; however populist you cut it, he’s treading familiar paths, rhyming in familiar cadence, arguing with the asshole authority of an artist much too comfortable with his niche.

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Hartford Courant

Where Francis suffers is in the music.

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Spin

He falls into mawkishness far too often. [Jun 2007, p.93]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes

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

Kenny M. gave it a3:
horrid. the prduction is absolutely horrible, not to mention the messy delivery by sage as he stumbles over cheap metaphors and cloudy imagery. I gave this album a three because there are only about that number that i can even stand to listen to. sage francis is a cheap imitator of other mc's like aesop rock and el-p who are LEGIONS above him. sage francis is a hack.

Bill gave it a6:
This is a pretty decent album by Sage, but he has lost all the fun in his music. Instead of being a hip-hop artist with an alternative bent, he approaches the music like an emo artist trying to rap. For better HIP HOP albums, check out his indie releases like the "Sick of..." series or "Hope" by Non-Prophets. Bring back some of the clever fun, Sage!

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
great album by Sage. No one does it better than him!

Richard H gave it an8:
A solid effort. It's not quite up to the level set by Journals and Distrust, but it's another solid notch on his ever growing belt. It's a more understated and cerebral listen. It's not the sound of a fiery political statement or the bittersweet angst of a broken family. But it is the sound of a growing master sharpening his blade. Jolie Holland really shines in her brief appearances.

Jamie A gave it a9:
Freakin amazing..ingenious some of the most intelligent writing since Roger Waters.

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Human The Death Dance

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