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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Out of Season
by Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man


9.0

based on 21 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 14 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The first solo outing for Portishead's Beth Gibbons finds her teaming up with former Talk Talk bassist Paul "Rustin' Man" Webb on a largely acoustic, melodic collection of 10 tracks.

LABEL:	Go Beat / Sanctuary
RELEASE DATE:	07 October 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

NOTES: Original UK release on Go Beat 28 October 2002.

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 among the best albums ever made. [Nov 2002, p.92]

ShakingThrough.net

That Out of Season leaves an imprint, and a powerfully lasting one at that, is a testament to Gibbons’ carefully sculpted lyrics and her vocal interpretation of same, combined with Webb’s unobtrusive but no less vital studio work.

Stylus Magazine

Out Of Season is both a remarkable record of beautiful music, and an outstanding, awe-inspiring performance inducing near-irresistible feelings and sensations. This album is a sublime example of the art of the singer, and of the art of music.

All Music Guide

The icing on the cake is in the little details.

Launch.com

Gibbons is a charismatic presence, her golden howl and misery-inflected tone recalling a cross between Billie Holiday and a demented Edith Piaf.

PopMatters

This is adult music in the best sense of the phrase, emotionally sophisticated and uncompromising both in intent and delivery.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Out Of Season makes Portishead's remarkable innovations sound like so much extra baggage to Gibbons' voice.

Amazon.com

Out of Season creates a dreamily sinister otherworld that's both vintage and timeless. [Amazon UK review]

Filter

"Autumnal" is the word everybody wants to use to describe this record, but that's wrong.... Out of Season has much mor eto do with winter than it does with anything so tame as the fall. [#8, p.106]

Entertainment Weekly

The songwriting isn't always as artful as the renderings. Yet, like Beck's Sea Change, it cultivates a seamless, sumptuous melancholy. [Listen 2 This supplement, Dec 2002, p.32]

Spin

It's a set of torch songs to do Nico proud--some folkie, some neo-soul, all darker than your closet at midnight. [Oct 2003, p.113]

Q Magazine

Another like this and people will struggle to remember she was ever in another band. [Dec 2002, p.98]

Uncut

Quietly devastating. [Dec 2002, p.131]

Neumu.net

On Out of Season, Gibbons' voice takes the spotlight. There's a quivery sound, similar to Billie Holiday's, which gets lost amid Portishead's stops and starts.

Almost Cool

While it indeed works wonders in most places, it stumbles in a few, crossing over into an almost sickenly sweet radio-friendly territory that make me doubly wish for new Portishead material.

The Wire

Some of Out Of Season's lyrics are almost too impossibly idealistic and airy fairy to carry off. [#226, p.54]

Magnet

Gibbons' craft is making her desperate drama believable and compelling.... [But] the lack of memorable tunes is Gibbons' worst affliction. [#61, p.96]

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

Gibbons's failure to leave the likes of "And I only hear/Only hear the rain" and "Time is but a memory" in her notebook suggests one limitation of her songcraft.

Urb

Disarmingly intimate. [Dec 2003, p.87]

Blender

Out Of Season's usefulness as ambience almost trumps its self-importance and paucity of standout material. [Dec 2003, p.136]

Pitchfork

Replace crackling vinyl and subwoofer bass with somber piano and mournful cello, and all you're left with is... well, a pretty goddamn miserable woman who happens to have a great voice.

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Heikki H gave it a10:
Truly amazing.

Julie D gave it a 9:
Sublime!

crush c gave it a 5:
while undoubtedly more listenable than most things released in the US this fall, out of season is nonetheless dull. stripped of all production, gibbon's songwriting falls flat and the songs lack vitality. she handles her voice well, but the record really just fades into the background. none of the album sticks with me, despite repeated, dedicated listenings.

Rex A gave it a 10:
One of the BEST albums to come along in the last 10 years. Moving yet subtle.. in one word Amazing.

Puddle Puddle gave it a 10:
One of the best ever!

Tyler G gave it a 5:
it's very good, depressing music. get drunk and high alone and let this directionless music steer you into oblivion. she does have a great voice though.

Andrey K gave it a 10:
the best lp of 2002

Out of Season by Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man

Out of Season
by Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man