Ex Hex
by Mary Timony
  • Record Label: Lookout
  • Release Date: Apr 19, 2005
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7

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  1. DebiB
    Mar 28, 2007
    9
    Excellent record--my favorite of 2005. Some of it is disjointed, but the great moments are truly stellar and outweigh any problems. If I had the money I'd buy a copy for all my friends. That's how much I like it.
  2. Dan..........NJ
    Jul 20, 2005
    10
    Mary's totally one-of-a-kind. And this kind of music is when she's at her absolute best (though Mountains WAS pretty damned awesome...i gave it 4 1/2 stars in the University paper)...fuzz-box guitar and a distinctively angel/harpy voice spitting the smartest slacker lyrics you'll ever hear. Dirt of Luck and Magic City may be the masterpieces, but Ex Hex is like a mature Mary's totally one-of-a-kind. And this kind of music is when she's at her absolute best (though Mountains WAS pretty damned awesome...i gave it 4 1/2 stars in the University paper)...fuzz-box guitar and a distinctively angel/harpy voice spitting the smartest slacker lyrics you'll ever hear. Dirt of Luck and Magic City may be the masterpieces, but Ex Hex is like a mature progression of the sound of a song like 'xxx' (which, coincidentally, i saw the video for on Beavis and Butthead in 94, and was thusly introduced to the land of Helium. Man, even the singles and EPs were classic!). She's just as genius as she's ever been (and both hearing the album and seeing her play twice in the past month made this crystal clear). And of course it can't hurt that she's the best female guitarist ever. The one thing you should know is that Ex Hex (much like Sleater-Kinney's 'The Woods') needs about 3 or 4 good listens before you should even bother trying to form an opinion.… Expand
  3. aa
    Jun 18, 2005
    9
    as a long time helium/mary t fan, i initially didn't get this album. when i saw her live with drummer devin, i was completely blown away. they are an amazing force. and this album just plain rocks.
  4. Dreampop
    May 13, 2005
    8
    Good songs but needs to have a fuller sound with a whole band. The guitar and drums rock and she seems to be heading in a better direction but I'm comparing it to Heliums Dirt of Luck which I give a 10. Still it beats any music on top 40 radio which at the highest could get a 5.
  5. jackm
    Apr 24, 2005
    10
    best yet! forceful, evocative, emotional, great stuff!

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Ex Hex can't really be called a return to form because Timony never lost it in the first place, but it's probably the most immediately appealing album in her solo career for Helium fans who missed that band's bite on her other albums.
    Read full review
  2. Dusted Magazine
    90
    It’s particularly satisfying to hear confident music like this, played with the fiery purpose of those who pioneered it over the last two decades.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    While Timony lays on the dreaminess a bit thick at times, Ex Hex's eerie beauty is vivid enough to keep you under its spell nearly all the way through. [22 Apr 2005, p.64]
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