CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Music

Upcoming Release Calendar
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Best Of 2004
Best Of 2003
Best Of 2002
Best Of 2001
Best Of 2000
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Music In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

55 3 Doors Down
69 9th Wonder & Buckshot
77 The Accidental
68 Adele
70 Adem
72 Alkaline Trio
76 Alphabeat
78 Animal Collective
54 Ashanti
66 Atmosphere
50 David Banner
79 The Baseball Project
77 Beck
67 The Black Angels
65 Black Ghosts
82 Bonnie "Prince" Billy
71 Booka Shade
75 Boris
71 Billy Bragg
47 The Brian Jonestown Massacre
83 Bun B
64 T Bone Burnett
65 Mariah Carey
68 The Charlatans
72 Coldplay
78 The Constantines
82 The Cool Kids
78 Elvis Costello & The Impostors
53 Craig David
73 Death Cab For Cutie
47 Def Leppard
61 Gavin DeGraw
64 Delays
66 dEUS
79 Neil Diamond
57 Dirty Pretty Things
57 Disturbed
59 Does It Offend You, Yeah?
73 Dresden Dolls
69 Dub Pistols
71 Duffy
79 Jakob Dylan
78 Earlimart
70 Ecstatic Sunshine
65 El Perro del Mar
82 Elbow
83 Alejandro Escovedo
73 Estelle
72 The Explorers Club
81 The Fall
54 Feeder
72 Firewater
77 Tim Fite
88 Fleet Foxes
79 Flight Of The Conchords
79 Robert Forster
75 Four Tet
47 Foxy Brown
63 The Fratellis
61 Free Kitten
71 French Kicks
79 Frightened Rabbit
73 The Futureheads
68 The Gossip
81 Al Green
47 G-Unit
65 Albert Hammond, Jr.
66 Ed Harcourt
78 Emmylou Harris
89 Harvey Milk
82 HEALTH
57 Heloise And The Savoir Faire
86 Hercules And Love Affair
77 John Hiatt
87 The Hold Steady
64 Vanessa Hudgens
77 James Hunter
70 Islands
69 Jewel
79 Joan As Police Woman
71 Joan Of Arc
58 Scarlett Johansson
69 John & Jehn
59 Judas Priest
57 Kerli
73 Kidz In The Hall
71 Fern Knight
65 The Kooks
69 Lady Antebellum
73 Ladytron
65 Langhorne Slim
77 The Last Shadow Puppets
67 Cyndi Lauper
62 Leila
66 Les Savy Fav
72 Jamie Lidell
71 Lil Mama
81 Lil Wayne
75 Little Jackie
72 Local H
73 The Long Blondes
46 Los Lonely Boys
66 Lyrics Born
69 M83
65 Madonna
78 Aimee Mann
80 Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
67 Mates Of State
78 Matmos
80 James McMurtry
78 John Mellencamp
74 The Melvins
71 Midnight Juggernauts
63 Alanis Morissette
57 Motley Crue
65 Jason Mraz
74 The M's
79 Mudcrutch
77 Mudhoney
54 The Music
71 My Brightest Diamond
70 My Morning Jacket
64 N.E.R.D. [The Neptunes]
71 Nas
80 Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis
76 The Night Marchers
77 Nine Inch Nails
78 No Age
76 The Notwist
54 The Offspring
72 Old 97's
85 Opeth
62 The Orb
62 James Pants
43 Katy Perry
71 Phantom Planet
84 Sam Phillips
56 The Pigeon Detectives
67 Plantlife
72 Plies
71 Robert Pollard
83 Ponytail
85 Portishead
75 Prodigy [of Mobb Deep]
69 Pyramids
48 The Rascals
71 Ratatat
86 Robyn
78 The Roots
48 Gavin Rossdale
73 Russian Circles
67 RZA
76 Santogold
72 Ron Sexsmith
86 Shearwater
81 Sigur Rós
78 Silver Jews
60 Carly Simon
62 Ashlee Simpson
76 Sloan
81 Patti Smith and Kevin Shields
74 Son, Ambulance
73 Sam Sparro
76 Spiritualized
90 Steinski
76 Subtle
67 Donna Summer
66 Supergrass
57 Three 6 Mafia
76 Thrice
76 Tilly And The Wall
64 The Ting Tings
51 Tokio Hotel
67 Tokyo Police Club
73 Randy Travis
65 Usher
76 Vetiver
69 The Virgins
77 Martha Wainwright
68 The Watson Twins
64 We Are Scientists
65 The Wedding Present
64 Weezer
76 White Denim
81 Cassandra Wilson
88 Dennis Wilson
61 Steve Winwood
78 Wire
79 Wolf Parade
63 The Zutons

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

 



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums

'Sno Angel Like You
by Howe Gelb

Howe Gelb reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 86 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.3 out of 10
based on 15 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 19 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The Giant Sand leader is backed by an eight-member gospel choir on this 14-track set.

LABEL: Thrill Jockey
RELEASE DATE: 21 March 2006
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Indie, Rock

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...

100
Mojo
It's remarkable how organic and right (as opposed to gimmicky) the church voices sound on these 14 melodic folk, spare soul and various-tempo blues songs. [Apr 2006, p.98]
90
All Music Guide
Fans of Gelb's have to be excited about this because it's perfect, a career high.
Read Full Review
90
Magnet
There's a lot to love about 'Sno Angel... Like You. [#71, p.98]
83
Pitchfork
With its subtly joyous tones and lustrous songwriting, 'Sno Angel Like You turns out to be a labor of love with endless rewards.
Read Full Review
83
cokemachineglow
Weighty and authoritative, the gospel backings help convert Gelb’s often world-weary musings into straight-talking wisdom, the kind of stuff you want to listen to on a bad day.
Read Full Review
80
The Guardian
The soulful harmonies complement Gelb's dry one-liners and restless guitar surprisingly well.
Read Full Review
80
Q Magazine
Get To Leave and Paradise Here Abouts unite Gelb's notoriously scattered logic into music showcasing an immense generosity of spirit and poetic warmth. [May 2006, p.124]
80
Prefix Magazine
'Sno Angel Like You is not only beautifully performed and recorded, but also wonderfully written.
Read Full Review
80
musicOMH.com
Gelb has produced his most focused work in ages.
Read Full Review
80
Tiny Mix Tapes
While nothing wholly spectacular, 'Sno Angel is no less an exceptional effort from a charmingly earnest, yet still somewhat self-conscious, lyricist and singer.
Read Full Review
80
Uncut
Feels freshly ironic and original. [Apr 2006, p.98]
75
Stylus Magazine
An immensely pleasing and happy album.
Read Full Review
70
Under The Radar
The album is consistent in tone and spirit, never wandering far from its uncluttered ethic. [#13, p.85]
70
Paste Magazine
Fortunately, while the pairing produces a mawkish or awkward moment here and there, 'Sno Angel Like You ulitmately captures the unique mixture of ugliness and beauty Gelb has strived to achieve throughout his career. [Apr/May 2006, p.115]
70
Village Voice
Most of Gelb's seven new songs hold their own with four primo re-rolls.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Wig gave it a9:
Another excellent release - you MUST see him live to fully appeciate his work...

AJ gave it a9:
This is like the good twin of Nick Cave's "Abattoir Blues." Gelb sounds self assured and the gospel choir lends a sense of religious authority to his quirky nuggets of alliterated wisdom. You get the feeling that he toned things down a bit with the choir involved, but it actually aids the final product. The album feels like an album. It has a sense of direction and cohesiveness without sacrificing the whimsical nature of Gelb's musings and vocal style. Fans of Gelb know that he can stray too far at times. He doesn't here.

erik e gave it a9:
another billiant album by giant howe !

Tobey T gave it a7:
howe gelb really does sound like a southwestern lou reed. it definitely takes a few listens to get into this album.

Dave A gave it a0:
These guys will never be good.

danny c gave it a7:
I'd be interested in how many of the reviewers still listen to this album? - it is quality but the female vocals have started to bug me to the point of turning off, any chance of a male only vocal version howe? > listen again and see what I mean.

David M gave it a9:
Actually would give it a 8.5 if could, not quite a true nine. No single song is a masterpiece, though the closing minute of Chore of Enchantment comes close, but ever song on this disc is solid, and the interplay between the choir and Gelb's countrified Lou Reed delivery totally works. In a weak year for music, a front-runner for album of the year, though would only rank in low teens/maybe twenties for me for 2005.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this album in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: World News | Fantasy Football | Amy Winehouse | Baseball | E3 | Batman | Firefox 3 | iPhone 3G

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise

© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use