Go Fly a Kite
by Ben Kweller
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. Paste Magazine
    Feb 7, 2012
    85
    It's spirited, energetic and competent power-pop.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Feb 13, 2012
    83
    The result is a sweetly evocative day at the park. [17 Feb 2012, p.72]
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  3. Blurt Magazine
    Apr 12, 2012
    80
    Coming in at 11 songs, there is hardly a weak one on Go Fly a Kite and no real need to call out one track over the next, as all are pretty much worth the price of the album.
  5. Uncut
    Feb 8, 2012
    80
    Kweller is a disarming presence and an unpretentious sonic architect. [Mar 2012, p.90]
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  6. Alternative Press
    Feb 8, 2012
    80
    His earnest vocals and easygoing spirit evoke both nostalgia and excitement for what may lay around the next bend in the road--a difficult feat he makes sound effortless. [Mar 2012, p.98]
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  7. CMJ
    Feb 7, 2012
    80
    The simplicity of the instrumentation is what perfects the record.
  8. PopMatters
    Feb 16, 2012
    70
    This record is rich in craft-from songwriting to intricate arrangement to whatever the spirit is that lifts certain music into inspiration.
  9. AllMusic
    Feb 7, 2012
    70
    It delivers the goods with its collection of summery jams while keeping nothing, not even the chord progressions, secret.
  10. Consequence
    Feb 7, 2012
    70
    Kweller does what he does best-mesh all the influences we've all heard a thousand times (The Beatles, Dylan, Beach Boys, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Etc.) into a bunch of three to four minute easy-listening pop songs.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    Apr 5, 2012
    67
    The piano-backed punch of "Jealous Girl" and swaying "Gossip" both achieve pinnacles of pop, completely masking their lackluster lyricism, but it's Kweller's pushing his ruffled tenor into Seventies roots-rock territory that serves him best here.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. chabonbon
    Feb 12, 2012
    9
    Ben Kweller is back with his best album yet. Go Fly a Kite is exactly what a good album should be like. The songs are catchy, the lyrics areBen Kweller is back with his best album yet. Go Fly a Kite is exactly what a good album should be like. The songs are catchy, the lyrics are clever, and the songwriting is impeccable (as usual with Ben Kweller). He has graduated from adolescence (finally) and is really making great music. His influences are obvious (Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Weezer) but it doesn't sound like a copy at all. Hopefully this will put Ben Kweller out more and give him some radio play. 10/10. Amazing.… Full Review »
  2. AlexxTrusc
    Apr 26, 2012
    3
    New indie-pop album of Ben Kweller - "Go Fly a Kite" is a very average product. The very first songs "Mean To Me" and "Out The Door" did notNew indie-pop album of Ben Kweller - "Go Fly a Kite" is a very average product. The very first songs "Mean To Me" and "Out The Door" did not impress. Thanks that somewhat minimalist-pop compositions like "Gossip", "Justify Me" or carefree county song "Full Circle" saves the situation. In any case this is not a proposition of the highest quality - you can let it go.… Full Review »
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