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Amazing Grace

EMAILPRINTby Spiritualized

Spiritualized reviews
68
6.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 28 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 17 votes
Read user comments
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Album Info

Label: Sanctuary / Spaceman

Release Date: 09 September 2003

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): Indie, Alternative, Rock

Summary

A quick follow-up by Spiritualized standards, 'Amazing Grace' finds Jason Pierce with a new record label (his own Spaceman Records imprint) and a more immediate, less orchestral sound than on 2001's 'Let It Come Down.'

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...

91

Spin

Amazing Grace is at peak moments an amazingly graceful representation of MC5/Stooges skid marks on a psychedelic superhighway. [Oct 2003, p.112]

90

Uncut

Another Spiritualized album. Another great Spiritualized album. [Oct 2003, p.120]

90

Splendid

Indolent, perturbed and volatile, Amazing Grace finds Pierce checking his wide-screen Spectorian visions at the studio door; he has opted, instead, for a coarse mix of electrified Southern gospel and somnabulent balladeering that has produced the most urgent Spiritualized album since Electric Mainline.

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83

Entertainment Weekly

[Pierce is] not averse to thrash; songs like "Never Going Back" find him crawling around in broken glass like Iggy, a supplicant for love. [12 Sep 2003, p.153]

80

Urb

Amazing Grace holds its place in the ever-evolving sound of one of the most momentous bands of the past decade. [Oct 2003, p.86]

80

No Ripcord

There is absolutely no doubt that this is an important album.

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80

The Guardian

Even in the current climate, they sound unique.

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80

Alternative Press

Pierce's organic approach on Grace makes the album feel exquisitely intimate, personable and warm. [Oct 2003, p.138]

80

Nude As The News

While the songs aren't that different from "classic" Spiritualized, the method in which they were recorded presents a whole new set of sonic possibilities.

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80

Outburn

The sound is taut and tough, with a much more spontaneous sound than previous efforts. [#23, p. 101]

80

Playlouder

More difficult when played initially, you will find yourself becoming immersed in it, a generous reward for your initial endeavours.

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80

Under The Radar

Amazing Grace is loud, dirty, sloppy, and crude. But it rocks hard. [#5, p.103]

80

Mojo

For every song that reacts against the last album, another chimes perfectly with its mood of epic redemption. [Sep 2003, p.101]

78

Almost Cool

Easily the least indulgent of the releases for the group thus far.

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70

PopMatters

It is a Spiritualized album in every sense of the word: bombastic, beautiful, energized, dynamic, and for some damn reason, just a little emotionless.

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62

Pitchfork

Even in its most inspired moments, Amazing Grace lacks the fiery intensity of any of Pierce's previous outings.

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60

Amazon.com

It may still sound beautiful, but too often Amazing Grace comes off as mere formula.

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60

All Music Guide

Amazing Grace is far from a bad album, but it's not an especially compelling one, either.

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60

The Onion (A.V. Club)

At its best, Amazing Grace® finds Pierce and his many supporting players piecing their disparate moods and sounds into moments of catharsis only Spiritualized could create. But too often, those ingredients are doled out separately, as the album jerks through jarringly integrated fragments that should have run together seamlessly.

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60

Dot Music

Much of 'Amazing Grace' is the tired evidence of a man rehashing the same ideas - rather than sounds and movements - like a robotic, assembly line Andy Warhol.

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50

Launch.com

The elements of free-jazz, mopey techno, and hypnotic riff rock find familiar combinations as Pierce's peace, love, and drugs philosophy takes on a perfunctory turn.

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50

Neumu.net

Pierce seems to have lost the magic that he once seemed in total command of.

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50

Flak Magazine

A return to form, though, doesn't imply a return to greatness.

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40

Q Magazine

An orgy of harmonica, squalling guitar, plodding ballads and ill-fitting minimalist trousers. What on earth is going on? [Oct 2003, p.113]

40

Rolling Stone

The Bible talk and the vintage-guitar distortion sound so rote it's hard to imagine Pierce is baring his soul rather than just plumbing the depths of his record collection.

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40

Blender

The mood is too inconsistent to connect. [Oct 2003, p.127]

10

The Wire

This is drivel inflated to whole new levels of bombast. [#235, p.72]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes

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

Willie L gave it an8:
Whats wrong with you people? WHATS WRONG?! This is another wonderful album from Pierce. Sure, its no Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, but what is? Take to mind that illness disrupted this recording and the songs like Hold On, Oh Baby and Lord Let It Rain on me really have effect. A great album. If not their best. Plus a Spiritualized parody for you - "Lord, Im On Heroin". I thought it was funny...

wayne gave it a10:
i think it's one amazing,warm,meaningful film

Jon gave it a 7:
At first i didn't like the album as well, but over some time it's grown on me, still far from perfect, but it's got a handful of tracks to make it worth going back to

Paul T. gave it a 0:
dreadfully bad, boring and forgetable, this should of been just some free bonus disc of b-sides attached to one of their better discs, they shoulda shelved it, i'm sorry but this was a major disappointment.

Todd B. gave it a 0:
Dreadfully bad, it's only 43 minutes but it felt like forever.

Jon H gave it a 4:
I hate Rolling Stone Magazine, but i have to agree with them here, this album was a major let down, i found it to be dull, there's only a couple of good songs, that's it.

paul M gave it a 10:
Amazing

Read more user comments >

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