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Bare Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the singer-songwriter features a guest appearance by Lisa Hannigan.
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Top Track

Wonderful
I wanna have you 'cause you're all I've got Don't wanna lose you 'cause it means a lot All the joy this world can bring Doesn't give me anything,... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Jan 28, 2019
    90
    Fitting snugly right alongside the likes of Vashti Bunyan and Julie Byrne, Bare is of the class that just may stick with you for a lifetime.
  2. 90
    Sophisticated and sombre, Carney knows how to evoke emotion with precision; on this record, she does so with extraordinary effect.
  3. Mojo
    Jan 28, 2019
    80
    There's a real bleakness here, so 7's motif is the confession that "I will always be alone," while the haunting Lisa Hannigan collaboration, Thousand, confronts Carney's grandmother's dementia. But there's optimism and strength too. [Mar 2019, p.92]
  4. Uncut
    Jan 28, 2019
    60
    A stripped-down set of acoustic songs sung in a voice that is sometimes overly winsome but at its best is hauntingly ethereal. [Feb 2019, p.24]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Oct 7, 2019
    8
    This girl has an incredible voice and whatever else about the album, the voice has to be heard. "What You've Been Looking For" opens theThis girl has an incredible voice and whatever else about the album, the voice has to be heard. "What You've Been Looking For" opens the record in impressive manner. Brings an up tempo Norah Jones to mind and immediately catches the listeners attention. "Bare" and "Thousand" are slow tempo songs, catchy but understated, very pleasant tracks on their own but carried by the magnificent vocal performances. "Winter" and "Humans" would ordinarily be classed as above average singer songwriter offerings but again, that voice take these songs onto the next level. There is a definite lull in the middle of the album. "Awake Me", "Zoey" and "Orchid" are bordering on filler tracks and while completely inoffensive they're not too memorable. Just when you think she has run out of steam, Carney blasts us out of the water with the immaculate "Your Love is Holy", an absolute gem of a song and every aspect of the recording is caught perfectly. It's the highlight of the album. "7" is another understated but great song. Strangely, the album closes with an instrumental "Bud(Rose)", another gorgeous piece. The opening 3 and closing 3 tracks are excellent but the middle section of the album feels a bit undercooked at times. A bit more development/production guidance on that section could have turned this into a classic debut. Instead its simply a great one. Expand