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Ghetto Bells Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The Athens, Georgia singer-songwriter is backed by an all-star band of Van Dyke Parks (keyboards), Bill Frisell (guitar) and Don Heffington (drums), with John Chelew producing.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Paste Magazine
    90
    A particularly powerful collection from a consistently brilliant artist. [Apr/May 2005, p.128]
  2. Chesnutt has rarely sounded better... expressing a full array of vivid and contrasting emotional states.
  3. Uncut
    90
    This sounds like the record Vic Chesnutt's been waiting his entire life to make. [Apr 2005, p.112]
  4. Songs like "Vesuvius"-- not to mention "Rambunctious Cloud" and "Gnats"-- have depth, a cagey charm, and an elusive mystery that demand not just repeated but aggressive listening. Chesnutt and his collaborators don't make that level of attention easy, but they do make it worthwhile.
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    Sweet, subtle and quietly insidious. [May 2005, p.111]
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    Too bad Bells' laborious folk arrangements aren't as appetizing as the singer's weird words. [25 Mar 2005, p.73]
  7. Spin
    42
    His mildewy folk rock is dourly impenetrable. [Apr 2005, p.108]

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. BrandonM
    Jun 11, 2005
    9
    An impressive and more focused follow-up to Silver Lake, Chesnutt give his listeners what they crave.
  2. WayneB
    Apr 23, 2005
    8
    A most impressive follow-up to his New West debut, 2003's Silverlake. Van Dyke Parks string arrangements and Bill Frisell's "fret A most impressive follow-up to his New West debut, 2003's Silverlake. Van Dyke Parks string arrangements and Bill Frisell's "fret magic" seem to naturally compliment the songwriting on Vic's ninth release of his illustrious career... Collapse