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Cuts Across The Land - The Duke Spirit
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. Under The Radar
    80
    Decidedly raw and unprocessed. [#13, p.91]
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  2. Urb
    80
    A reminder of artists like the Breeders. [Mar 2006, p.122]
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  3. All Music Guide
    80
    Cuts Across the Land is a strong, self-assured debut, even if the Duke Spirit needs to work a little harder to escape the long shadow of their forebears.
  4. Alternative Press
    80
    Should you find yourself craving the fleeting rush of a dark, well-crafted pop song, Cuts Across The Land does wonders for, well, the spirit. [May 2006, p.176]
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  5. Prefix Magazine
    80
    They've got an amazing musical connection between them and its evident on this tight, pulsating, thumping record.
  6. Stylus Magazine
    75
    Cuts Across offers a surprisingly persuasive clutch of rock 'n roll that beg for barnstorming live performances.
  7. Pitchfork
    74
    Despite the blemishes, Cuts Across the Land is a surprisingly galvanized and consistent offering.
  8. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    A melodic masterpiece of boldly indignant malevolent spite.
  9. Dot Music
    70
    An energised and impassioned, justly confident debut.
  10. Q Magazine
    70
    A commanding debut. [Jun 2005, p.113]
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  11. PopMatters
    70
    Cuts Across the Land is an impressive debut from a promisingly assured and frequently striking group.
  12. Mojo
    60
    You sense they need a couple of pure pop gems that the Mary Chain had submerged within the noise to perfect the classic sound they aspire to. [Jun 2005, p.95]
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  13. Uncut
    60
    Retains a uniform ambience of savage, unsmiling riffing. [Jun 2005, p.114]
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  14. Blender
    60
    [Moss'] raw, husky delivery [is] able to turn even throwaway lines like "I swam to the bottom of the sea for you/I climbed to the top of the trees for you" into high drama. [Apr 2006, p.111]
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  15. The Guardian
    60
    The Duke Spirit end up being cock-rock without the cock, the guitars strutting, posing and providing an inconsequential background against which Moss tries to prove she's as good as the boys.
  16. musicOMH.com
    60
    Though The Duke Spirit lack the Tex Avery mania of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or the eye-bulging strutting confidence of Polly Harvey, they do have an easy way with structured reverberative grooves.
  17. Playlouder
    40
    Even on repeated listens, the search for the showy dazzle of The Killers, the lyrical tomfoolery of the Kaiser Chiefs or the sheer stadium smartness of Franz Ferdinand proves fruitless, and it becomes apparent that, in an age where indie's proving to be the stronghold of overachievers, 'Cuts Across The Land' may have missed its moment.
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. tim
    9
    Great record. Her voice is pure and lovly
  2. GinaT
    10
    Cuts rocks and swings, has personality, and and updates beautifully tastemaking sounds!
  3. Michael
    9
    seriously one of my favorite albums this year . . . really fun band live.
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