Blak and Blu
by Gary Clark, Jr.
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
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  1. anitquity
    Oct 29, 2012
    5
    Half the songs are great, half the songs really are terrible. Way too over-produced and absolutely a grab bag of styles from song to song. Some obvious, heavy handed attempts at radio play sandwiched between fantastic blues. Listening to this album all the way through is simply an impossibility.
  2. MetricStation3
    Nov 19, 2012
    5
    Good, not great. Some songs have enough power in them to make the album worth listening to worth while, but ultimately most songs are skippable. Such a contrast from song to song does not fair well to a listener looking for consistency from song to song. Ultimately, this album fell short of its potential.
  3. VivaMexico4
    Dec 6, 2012
    9
    Gary Clark Jr. is amazing at what he does. That solo on "Please Come Home" is filled with so much soul I don't know how else to describe it. "Third Stone from the Sun / If You Love Me Like You Say" is just plain crazy. He has is own signature sound. It's kind of like how you can tell just by listening when Hendrix is playing, or Santana, or Jack White. That little lick he plays on thatGary Clark Jr. is amazing at what he does. That solo on "Please Come Home" is filled with so much soul I don't know how else to describe it. "Third Stone from the Sun / If You Love Me Like You Say" is just plain crazy. He has is own signature sound. It's kind of like how you can tell just by listening when Hendrix is playing, or Santana, or Jack White. That little lick he plays on that song (Third Stone form the Sun...) is derived from Hendrix's version but he made it his own. I like it all. There's something missing, though. I was expecting another song like "Numb" but with even more energy. Maybe Gary can create something crazy in his next album. I'd love to hear some Muddy Waters mixed with Jack White and some Hendrix flavor on a track.… Expand
  4. powerhouse66
    Nov 14, 2013
    9
    Solid blues with added surprises of hip hop, soul and power pop! One of my favorites to wake up the party or travelling in the car! Gary Clark Jr is the latest in a long line of talented and versatile guitarists in the guitar hero mode.

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Most Shared Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 25, 2013
    60
    His guitar and voice are at their best on the likes of opening Stax stomper Ain't Messin' 'Round and the heavy soul of When My Train Pulls In, Numb, and the funky Bright Lights--his guitar crunchy and full in a way you only get with good amps and pedals.
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  2. The Independent (UK)
    Feb 22, 2013
    60
    Large parts of Blak and Blu are spent crooning falsetto soul numbers or cranking out chunky rockers in the vein of the Stones and Bob Seger.
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  3. The Guardian
    Feb 21, 2013
    80
    His own tunes range all over the place--Travis County is breathless garage-rock, The Life a debonair, Ne-Yo-like homage to idleness--but the quality is uniformly high.
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