Boarding House Reach
by Jack White
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Mar 23, 2018
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 129 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 129
  3. Negative: 14 out of 129
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  1. GJS
    Mar 26, 2018
    4
    I have loved Jack White for years, no matter what band he was with or solo. But this album is such a shambles from start to finish with songs not going anywhere and a lot of ideas that do not work. It's a mess of an album. The teaser video they did for this album where they played snippets from the songs but the actual songs do not build on these. Either a song will go nowhere on thisI have loved Jack White for years, no matter what band he was with or solo. But this album is such a shambles from start to finish with songs not going anywhere and a lot of ideas that do not work. It's a mess of an album. The teaser video they did for this album where they played snippets from the songs but the actual songs do not build on these. Either a song will go nowhere on this album or it will go to too many places at once making it really hard to listen to & enjoy. I still have hope for him for another great album but this & the last Dead Weather isn't looking likely that he'll release better songs anytime soon.… Expand
  2. erolsabadosh
    Mar 23, 2018
    6
    Not bad but the lack of actual songs is disappointing, it's very jam/interlude heavy. The most traditional ones on here are Connected by Love (easily the best track on here) and What's Done is Done, the former showcasing some of White's best vocal delivery and the latter tapping into acoustic White Stripes vibes but mixed with a very flat sounding vintage drum machine, every other effortNot bad but the lack of actual songs is disappointing, it's very jam/interlude heavy. The most traditional ones on here are Connected by Love (easily the best track on here) and What's Done is Done, the former showcasing some of White's best vocal delivery and the latter tapping into acoustic White Stripes vibes but mixed with a very flat sounding vintage drum machine, every other effort on here is quite experimental but in ways that I find counteractive to White's best tendencies; namely his knack for simple songwriting and catchy guitar riff hooks.… Expand
  3. AlexZedKawa
    Mar 26, 2018
    5
    I REALLY wanted to love this album. But alas, it bored me. There was far too much filler, and the instrumentals were very obnoxious at points. But, there were definitely a few highlights, such as Connected By Love and What's Done Is Done.
  4. rudster1138
    Mar 23, 2018
    5
    Wow, this was a real dissapointment for me. The traditional songs are really good, you know, the ones where he actually sings... Bus so much of it is like a poetry recital set to music. Sure the production is great and the sounds are usually interesting, but I was left with a bunch of songs that I really can't see myself coming back to .
  5. Andremax
    Jul 13, 2018
    4
    Very confused and non-sense album that's difficulty even been listened start-to-end. Minority of the songs saves itself. A failed White's tentative looking interesting with experimental songs.

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Most Discussed Album of 2018
88
#88 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. No Ripcord
    Apr 18, 2018
    60
    Boarding House Reach isn’t the easiest of listens, and at times sounds like an over-excited White has just pressed 'record' and let his absurdity run amok. However, its strong moments just about outnumber the less appealing ones, and White’s own creative juices are still being harvested in abundance.
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  2. Magnet
    Apr 17, 2018
    75
    What is by some distance the weirdest, wildest White we've yet encountered on record. [No. 150, p.60]
  3. Variety
    Mar 30, 2018
    90
    On Boarding House Reach, he goes well out of his way to re-scatter the puzzle, but it’s a divine enough mess.
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