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Big
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 20 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Geffen
Release Date: 27 March 2007
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): R&B, Soul
Summary
The soul singer's first album in four years includes production work from will.i.am and Justin Timberlake and appearances by Fergie, Nas and Natalie Cole.
Also By This Artist: The Id The Trouble With Being Myself
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...
Los Angeles Times
"Big" is a nice return to form for Gray. Too bad it runs out of ideas before it runs out of tracks.
Read Full Review >The New York Times
“Big” purposefully grooms Ms. Gray for current R&B radio. But it doesn’t hold back her personality or her odd, indelible voice. [26 Mar 2007]
Read Full Review >Hartford Courant
Gray's latest is an engaging, soulful effort from a singer who is proving herself to be more of a career artist than a hit-maker.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
The record is righteously dominated by Gray's larger-than-life presence. [May 2007, p.127]
Boston Globe
The lyrics -- which seesaw manically between exhortations to a no-goodnik to get out and purrings about being glad to have a lover by her side -- won't get nominated for any poetry awards, but Gray makes her case on the strength of her nutty soul charms.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Much here is either boring or forced. [30 Mar 2007, p.71]
Blender
will.i.am... does push [Big] beyond her Sly Stone safety zone. [Apr 2007, p.111]
Read Full Review >Slant Magazine
Unfortunately (and not surprisingly), Gray's already weathered voice is more worn than ever; she struggles to reach and sustain notes that should be comfortably within her range.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
The sticking point is that, after a confident, rootsy start, the songs run out of steam halfway through, leaving Gray flailing through conventional soul stodge.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Hampered by Gray's dial-a-diva rasp, Big is nowhere near as good as it should be. [May 2007, p.92]
Hot Press
Despite the big name producer and big time contributors, Gray has somehow achieved the not insignificant feat of delivering an altogether average record.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
While Big shows flashes of the irrepressible spirit that made Macy’s first two albums fun to listen to, there are many more instances of uninspired, boring music designed to capture a middle-of-the-road audience.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
[Producer Ron] Fair's [music] is concentrated sugar water, and Gray... too often pens lyrics and sings tunes just as cloying.
Read Full Review >NOW Magazine
Repeatedly tries to regenerate the neo-soul-pop formula of I Try, down to its beat pauses and rich, piano-driven arrangements.
Read Full Review >musicOMH.com
You're left feeling like you're listening the audio equivalent of a normally classy mum dressing up in her daughter’s clothing.
Read Full Review >Vibe
[She takes a] new, inappropriately measured approach. [May 2007, p.115]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
jyotirmaya d. gave it an8:
Macy Gray is back in a BIG way, and I love it!!! She always puts out good albums...too bad she doesn't get the super-sales, attention, air-play on MTV2 and money other artists do...oh well...she should be proud of this endeavor.
Tannya P. gave it a10:
I love it! Especially "What I gotta do" it has a lot of heart and it's a great song! Macy Gray is Back!
Darrell P gave it an8:
All i know is, it giives me this real feel good vibe when i'm driving home from work, and the hour drive hasn't been so badlsince it's been in the player, thats all I know.
Todd W gave it a2:
I'm ashamed to say I heard this no-talent for the first time at a pro football game, of which I'm eternally damned, I know. After all, surrounded by pathetic middle-aged adolescents is no way to be introduced to something new. But here came Macy and her grrrrls to butcher our national anthem. Amidst a cascade of boos, she forgot the words, but was giggling the entire time like it was a big joke, which I guess in the context of the time and place, it was. But then again, so is anybody who takes her seriously as an artist. I promise to never go to another professional sporting event if you promise to occasionally just walk away from the "G" section of the R&B area in your local record store.
Luis G gave it an8:
Like so many artists Gray fell under the radar after her grammy nominated " Try" one my fav songs ever.... after three studii albums with epic gray continues to offer her own blend of adult R&B with such poise that is often mistaken for awkard but really is quintessential ...ive enjoyed her albums and that voice that you either love or hate .... Big is exactly that producers, beats and yet remains true to macy grays signature sound im glad to hear such originality blossom William embraces grays eccentric styles and manages to provoke a fun smooth sound... Big is at Grays Best !!!
yorick gave it a10:
what an album.... liked it the first time around.... but now i have listened a few time it really is superb. Man what a great album. she is back with a vengeance... i will tell you that it will be the summer album of 2007, and a classic... she lost her distinct sound a little but god she made such a thrilling album
Amanda gave it a4:
I'm a big Macy Gray fan - love her 3 albums - especially The Id. Having a hard time getting through this one. It's pretty boring and repetitive. Not funky enough - none of the grooviliciousness of "Relating to a Psychopath" or "Sexual Revolution" Songs seem to be about nothing... a few interesting tracks like Strange Behavior, but event hat wears out its welcome. Got it for free and really close to deleting it all... or almost all.
