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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Knowle West Boy
by Tricky
The British rapper's eighth album was named in part after the area he grew up in.
| LABEL: |
Domino |
| RELEASE DATE: |
09 September 2008 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Electronic |
NOTES: Original UK release 7 July 2008.
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...
80
Uncut
Tricky is back with his best album in at least a decade.
80
Billboard
Knowle West Boy shows that regardless of era, Tricky does his thing and does it well.
80
All Music Guide
It not only re-establishes him as a pioneer, but as an engaging personae who isn't hiding behind his sonic palette anymore; his music is all the better for it.
80
Boston Globe
Knowle West Boy marks a long-overdue return to form from one of the founding fathers of trip-hop.
75
The Phoenix
Knowle West Boy is a survey of Tricky’s sonic versatility--straightforward rock and oppressive, moody atmospherics all have a home here--and it is frequently gorgeous.
75
Entertainment Weekly
Knowle still offers a diverse evocation of his childhood in the proverty-riddled district of the title. [12 Sep 2008]
70
PopMatters
Perhaps it’s not a full home run--it’s good, but more a retrenchment than a bold step forward. That’s OK, however.
70
New Musical Express
This is pure Tricky; sometimes at his near-best, sometimes coasting, but always unique.
70
Blender
The music, coproduced by M.I.A. confederate Switch, warps and wanders too, from rock-rap to dancehall to new wave to folk.
70
Rolling Stone
It's variety that makes this Tricky's best since his 1995 debut, Maxinquaye.
70
The Wire
There are many memorable tracks here, but you still can't help missing the scratchy textures and humid atmosphereics of "Maxinquaye" and "Pre-millennium Tension." [July 2008, p.60]
60
Urb
Worth the wait, Knowles West Boy provides a uniquely varied soundscape from an equally enigmatic musicmaker. [Jul/Aug 2008, p.87]
60
Mojo
It's not a groundbreaking record, largely because Tricky himself broke most of the ground here 13 years ago. [Aug 2008, p.103]
60
Q Magazine
This is no dour social critique. In fact, his seventh album finds him energised following a period as a soundtrack hack in Los Angeles. [Aug 2008, p.145]
60
Dot Music
It makes for some pleasingly approachable music but that's not what he'll be remembered for.
60
Drowned In Sound
It’s as accessible as his debut, that much is true – Tricky’s welcomed the pop infection that’s spread through his system since the bleak Angels With Dirty Faces – but it lacks a standout single voice.
60
musicOMH.com
However, this album feels like it marks the beginning of a return of form, and it's great to hear his voice again on tunes that don't make you work to the point of sufferance to get any enjoyment out of.
60
Spin
Tricky reengages with his pain that gave him his original power. [Sep 2008, p.128]
60
Under The Radar
There is a static-y scratchy cackle running through Knowles West Boy that gives ut the energy of a classic reggae record and a post modern work at the same time. But then at the same time, there is a just-recently-became-dated tone to Knowles West Boy that feels like Tricky is trying to scramble onto trendy bandwagons. [Fall 2008, p.84]
58
Pitchfork
His proxies fare a bit better, though there's another problem: There's way too many of them, and none of them stick around long enough to establish themselves.
40
NOW Magazine
Butler might consider himself lucky he got out when he did, as Tricky’s ideas are scattered all over the place and Knowle West Boy is mostly a mess.
The average user rating for this album is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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