Electric Circus
by Common
  • Record Label: MCA
  • Release Date: Dec 10, 2002
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Neumu.net
    50
    One problem: Common is an MC, not a musician. Which makes it difficult for him to achieve his lofty goals. Mostly he fails.
  2. Village Voice
    60
    Beautifully engineered, Circus sounds chocolaty and recombinant even when it doth protest the Enlightened Guy angle too much.
  3. Blender
    40
    Its attempts at a more ethereal sound crash up against Common's cumbersome intellectualizing. [#13, p.91]
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  5. Spin
    60
    The storytelling here isn't as sharp as on Common's previous albums. [Feb 2003, p.100]
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Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best Album of 2002
59
#59 Most Shared Album of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. ben_zo77
    Aug 18, 2014
    8
    Electric Circus is a flawed, yet beautiful, one-of-a-kind album. It's hard to top Common's creativity, artistic touch, and musicality on thisElectric Circus is a flawed, yet beautiful, one-of-a-kind album. It's hard to top Common's creativity, artistic touch, and musicality on this record. ~ 8.2/10

    Best track: "Come Close" (feat. Mary J. Blige): It's one of the more traditional hip hop songs on the album, but it's emotional and heartfelt.

    Other notable tracks: "I Got A Right Ta", "I Am Music" & "Jimi Was A Rock Star"    … Full Review »
  2. ScottyS
    Aug 1, 2006
    10
    Dude this album is hot to me better than BE. So what if he has too many guests Common is trying to shar eto us other artist that are great Dude this album is hot to me better than BE. So what if he has too many guests Common is trying to shar eto us other artist that are great and we never heard of like Laetita Sadier of Stereolab, Bilal,Dart Chillz, and Omar… Full Review »
  3. TylerH
    Jan 22, 2006
    8
    Genius, Jimmy P. knows what hes talking about. Star 69, come close, between me you and liberation. Common is a lyrical genius and this album Genius, Jimmy P. knows what hes talking about. Star 69, come close, between me you and liberation. Common is a lyrical genius and this album is a classic. Im woundering how ne one thought it was better than "Be" i mean "Be" was good but just not up to commons standards.… Full Review »
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