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Grand Romantic
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Grand Romantic Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut solo release for the Fun. frontman was produced by Jeff Bhasker and Emile Haynie.
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Top Track

Nothing Without Love
I am nothing without love I'm but a ship stuck in the sand Some would say that I'm all alone But I am, I'm nothing without love I wanna hold her in... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Alternative Press
    Jun 16, 2015
    80
    Grand Romantic is proof-positive more Nate Ruess is always a good thing. [Jul 2015, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Rolling Stone
    Jun 16, 2015
    70
    Fun. co-producers Jeff Bhasker and Emile Haynie help Ruess create richly orchestrated bombast with the right amount of sonic wanderlust.
  3. AllMusic
    Jun 16, 2015
    70
    Grand Romantic is a fittingly grandiose, occasionally silly, passionately effusive, and ultimately very catchy album.
  4. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jun 17, 2015
    60
    While the album is often an enjoyable listen, it is difficult not to wonder what the collective talents of Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff of fun., or even the talents of a Sam Means of The Format, could’ve yielded to Grand Romantic’s songwriting.
  5. Pitchfork
    Jun 23, 2015
    55
    It shows how Ruess might succeed on his own as a good-hearted Midwestern boy--not quite a star, but someone capable of appreciating their light.
  6. The A.V. Club
    Jun 16, 2015
    50
    Grand Romantic often feels so preoccupied with grandiose gestures that it loses sight of the little details that in the past have made Ruess’ music so memorable.
  7. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Jun 16, 2015
    0
    Ruess’ voice has great volume, but no body. There’s no roundness, or richness, to his tone. It’s all hard angles, offering no cushion for the screech. Worse, he often pushes his voice beyond its bounds, in the process making him sound as pinched as Alvin or one of the Chipmunks.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. onqqq2
    Jul 12, 2015
    10
    We all know the songs that fit the norm, and we know the ones that challenge it. Nate Ruess does a fantastic job in this album generating anWe all know the songs that fit the norm, and we know the ones that challenge it. Nate Ruess does a fantastic job in this album generating an authentic and catchy sound that oddly does not always sound pleasing to the ear. Some songs like "AhHa" upon its first listen come off as a bit abrasive, but after only a few additional listens it sounds like a brilliant derivative of his old band's masterpiece "Some Nights". If you liked fun you will like this. I always find it humorous to browse through negative reviews put in by people who never liked his style in the first place. I have no doubt Nate Ruess and his powerful voice is one of the greatest of the Alternative Rock genre today. The album probably deserves a 9 or 8 but I decided to give it a 10 to combat the negative scores.… Expand
  2. Dcoiscool19
    Jun 21, 2015
    9
    Nate Ruess's debut solo album "Grand Romantic" is ever so beautiful and lovely divine as the title describes it as xD! One of the best thingsNate Ruess's debut solo album "Grand Romantic" is ever so beautiful and lovely divine as the title describes it as xD! One of the best things done right in this album is the extremely lovely atmosphere Nate has created in this album here it has a divinely beautiful feel but at times kind be heartwarmingly sad and melancholy. But the thing that stands out the most is the lyrics and melodies within these 12 lovely crafted songs. Songs like "AhHa" remind me of a true Fun. song and other songs like "You Light my Fire" is an uptempo fun song to dance to and jam. Songs I thought that really gave pure emotion were "Great Big Storm" and "Grand Romantic" and "Brightside". In the end there's really not much to negate or say bad about this album honestly it nails every key point in being a great album. Final verdict: "Grand Romantic" doesn't feel like another Fun. album and Ik Nate Ruess didn't intend it to be cause it's something more honestly, it's him being himself and telling an amazingly divine story within this beautiful colorful creative and lovely one of a kind album here that deserves attention. After listing to this album you will truly find the "Grand Romantic" in you :) 9.6/10… Expand
  4. leftwing83
    Jul 9, 2015
    8
    After the wild success of "Some Nights" Ruess follows up with this. A fun ride from start to finish but it feels very similar to Fun. "GrandAfter the wild success of "Some Nights" Ruess follows up with this. A fun ride from start to finish but it feels very similar to Fun. "Grand Romantic" feels like it's missing something, namely Antonoff and Dost.… Expand
  5. WolfLambert
    Jun 16, 2015
    5
    This is not a bad album by any means, but it's not very memorable, the lyrics are fairly boring and the style gets repetitive when you'reThis is not a bad album by any means, but it's not very memorable, the lyrics are fairly boring and the style gets repetitive when you're through. Aside from the absolutely atrocious opener "AhHa" (seriously, I can't stand that laugh) everything else here is just a fine enough bunch of indie pop love songs, but nothing I've never heard before, and then there's the track with Beck, which I actually really like. I don't think I'll remember this album in a month, but it's not terrible, just not in any way does it reach a real peak that grabs my attention except for the track with Beck.… Expand
  6. Sani
    Jan 4, 2016
    2
    Oh no! I loved Nate Ruess back in Fun. and I still admire his voice but this album really had no "oomph" like "Some Nights" did. ReallyOh no! I loved Nate Ruess back in Fun. and I still admire his voice but this album really had no "oomph" like "Some Nights" did. Really disappointing. I certainly hated the Fun. undertones and sampling that are like a constant "remember me, I was in Fun. Support me!".… Expand

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