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Electric Circus
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Electric Circus Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

  • Summary: On his fifth album, the underground rapper ventures more into the rock, soul, and jazz territory of his influences, with production help from the Soulaquarians. An eclectic array of guests includes Prince, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Bilal, Mary J. Blige, and Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier.

Top Track

Come Close
Common Feat. Mary J Blige - "Come Close" (verse 1) {Common} Are we living in a dream world? Are your eyes still green girl? I know you're sick and... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Mojo
    100
    A record of startling breadth. [Feb 2003, p.96]
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  2. PopMatters
    100
    While Talib's Quality and The Roots' Phrenology break new ground for both acts, Electric Circus is clearly the most adventurous of the trio of releases.
  3. Ink Blot Magazine
    100
    The Electric Circus turns out to be a place that exists in Hip-hopolis and Rawk City and Bacharachville and DixieLand and Heaven, all at the same time. Holy crap, people, Com did it: he broke on through to the other side.
  4. Q Magazine
    80
    It works... stretching rap into weird new shapes. [Feb 2003, p.97]
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  5. Launch.com
    70
    If Prince had ever successfully come to grips with hip hop, this is what the result might have sounded like.
  6. The A.V. Club
    70
    Like The Roots' new Phrenology, Electric Circus possesses many of the weaknesses associated with ambition: a bloated running time, the faint aroma of pretension, an obligatory spoken-word piece, and songs that outlast their welcome.
  7. Blender
    40
    Its attempts at a more ethereal sound crash up against Common's cumbersome intellectualizing. [#13, p.91]
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See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. 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… Expand
  2. JimmyP
    Sep 1, 2005
    10
    This album is unbelievable. I enjoyed this album so much. This cd is ambitious, and it's great that Common took a chance. To me Star 69 This album is unbelievable. I enjoyed this album so much. This cd is ambitious, and it's great that Common took a chance. To me Star 69 and Come close are the standouts… Expand
  4. 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.… Expand
  5. 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"    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

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