Everyone Deserves Music
by Michael Franti & Spearhead
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. AllMusic
    90
    Franti and Spearhead almost made a deliberate attempt to stray from the typical hip-hop beats and go for something a bit more organic and acoustic than their previous efforts -- and the experiments more than pay off.
  2. Austin Chronicle
    67
    Musically, it's as diverse as anything the band has ever done, smoothly vacillating between forceful beats and heady grooves.
  3. Blender
    70
    The pie-in-the-sky ambitions may be a little much, but credit Franti for dreaming up a kinder, gentler new world order. [Sep 2003, p.122]
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  5. E! Online
    67
    When he gets it right, the rich grooves and soulful voices can be sublime, like early '70s Curtis Mayfield or Sly and the Family Stone.
  6. Launch.com
    80
    Always undervalued as a songwriter, Franti reassembles his familiar building blocks of rock, reggae, and vintage R&B into the funkiest, most inviting neighborhoods he's yet created.
  7. Mojo
    80
    Musically and vocally, this is Franti's most confident and varied work to date. [Jul 2003, p.106]
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  8. PopMatters
    50
    It seems as though Franti's writing has morphed into messages of peace, love, and personal empowerment without context -- which doesn't make the songs bad per se, just closer to average.
  9. Q Magazine
    70
    An intelligent, well-crafted and catchy mix of funk, rap, soul and right-on sloganeering. [Jul 2003, p.104]
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  10. Rolling Stone
    70
    A joyous celebration of life that pulverizes bullets with positive vibes.
  11. ShakingThrough.net
    76
    The musical stretches Spearhead makes go a long way toward making Everyone Deserves Music a memorable, even highly recommended affair, but the sanding down of Franti's rougher edges just prevents it from being an essential album. Spearhead fans deserve more consistently inspiring fare than they get here.
  12. Splendid
    80
    Everyone Deserves Music excels beyond simple good intentions because Franti and Spearhead are also at peace with their musical influences.
  13. Uncut
    40
    "Never Too Late" sounds like an unhappy mix of Randy Newman and Arrested Development, and sometimes Franti sounds like a clap-happy Seal. [Jul 2003, p.130]
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  14. Vibe
    60
    Delivers a spiritual and political message that's both sensual and relevant. [Oct 2003, p.185]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. DaveR
    Sep 1, 2004
    8
    being one of my favorite artists, I could'nt wait for the follow up to the truly inspiring "stay human". although there's still being one of my favorite artists, I could'nt wait for the follow up to the truly inspiring "stay human". although there's still nobody that comes close to Franti in combining music, lyrics and awareness (and if there is - please let me know), I thought this album sometimes crossed the delicate line between good-natured-yet-aware and emotional-sentimental-mushy. still, MF is a real MF. … Full Review »
  2. anepiphany
    Jan 22, 2004
    9
    lush and lovely and meaningful
  3. MikeM
    Nov 23, 2003
    9
    Yet another great album from the most criminally ignored artist(s) of the last 10 years.
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