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Dim Stars, Bright Sky Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Founding member of Los Angeles punkers X and occasional actor John Doe returns with his fourth solo album, this one produced by Joe Henry with guest appearances from Rhett Miller (Old 97s), Aimee Mann, Jakob Dylan and Jane Wiedlin.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. 90
    The tunes here are full of immediately memorable, if not obvious, hooks, and the vocals capture a tenderness and vulnerability he's never before revealed.
  2. Resonance
    80
    Seems the perfect sweet and sour soundtrack for some yet-to-be-made Paul Thomas Anderson film. [#36, p.54]
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    A marvellous, surprising comeback from a forgotten talent. [Mar 2003, p.103]
  4. The album forsakes Doe's past rockabilily, country, and punk leanings for a fairly morose, maudlin mood.
  5. The problem is the songs. Oh, the songs - they're pretty, all right, but there's no substance.
  6. Uncut
    60
    If Doe intended to create an interlocked set of pieces that sustained a mood of pensive reverie, he succeeded, though there's a marked shortage of ear-grabbing, individual songs. [Mar 2003, p.95]
  7. Blender
    60
    So low-key that even the amplified instruments sound semi-acoustic. [#10, p.116]

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. AdamL
    Jan 14, 2005
    10
    My favorite album of 03! No doubt that John can do whatever he sets out to do!
  2. JamesL.
    Oct 9, 2002
    5
    At first, I could barely sit through the entire album as it is very low key. After several listenings, I have grown to like it better. The At first, I could barely sit through the entire album as it is very low key. After several listenings, I have grown to like it better. The major problem is that the harmonies are barely distingushable and it simply doesn't ever take off. Expand