Happiness In Magazines
by Graham Coxon
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Logo
    90
    The defining characteristic of ‘Happiness In Magazines’ isn’t its full sound, nor its sharp reminder of what a great band Blur used to be; its in the sheer imaginative scope.
  2. Dot Music
    80
    It's not original or slyly crafted enough - a couple of songs could definitely have benefited from a quick edit from Damon - to feel truly classic, but it has a charm and a vibrancy that's impossible to resist.
  3. Pitchfork
    75
    Exploring the vacated ghosts of stale forms, Coxon has breathed new life into some of rock's most bankable clichés.
  5. AllMusic
    90
    Happiness in Magazines feels like Coxon's first true solo album -- it's the first to present a complex, robust portrait of him as an artist, and the first that holds its own next to what he accomplished in Blur.
  6. Drowned In Sound
    80
    An album which traverses exhilaration, desire, despair and loss and sees a songwriter finally completely on top of his game.
  7. The Guardian
    80
    A great lost Blur album.
  8. Amazon.com
    90
    Happiness in Magazines is riddled with glorious pop songs, and in a sane world would yield several hit singles. [Amazon UK]
  9. Splendid
    80
    Coxon's effortless cool comes to the fore, imbuing each song with a wiry, infectious energy.
  10. Under The Radar
    80
    Bouncy punk, bluesy rock and boozy pop: this is the real Graham Coxon. [#7]
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  11. Mojo
    80
    An album of straight-up, dazzlingly well-realised British pop. [May 2004 p.92]
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  12. Uncut
    80
    His most accessible work since Parklife. [Sep 2004, p.101]
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  13. Q Magazine
    80
    The best Graham Coxon imaginable. [Jun 2004, p.97]
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  14. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    Happiness In Magazines is one of the best garage rock hybrids to have been released since The Strokes hit it big.
  15. ShakingThrough.net
    76
    Happiness in Magazines is the sound of a former sideman confidently flexing his muscles for anyone who's interested. More people should be.
  16. Austin Chronicle
    78
    Happiness in Magazines is a huge stride forward for Coxon, who here seems to have jettisoned his scattershot aural experimentation in favor of meaty melodies that actually stick with you.
  17. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    [He] never abandons his knowing, witty sense of lyricism. [28 Jan 2005, p.83]
    All this publication's reviews
  18. PopMatters
    70
    Coxon undermines the record's momentum somewhat by filling Happiness in Magazines with too many Blur-light moments.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Tuskaj
    Mar 9, 2006
    10
    the best artist rock of the year..... graham coxon is my all.
  2. [Anonymous]
    Apr 1, 2005
    8
    Pretty freakin' awesome! Classic Britpop from a guy who knows his stuff. A couple of tracks seem fillery, but there are enough great Pretty freakin' awesome! Classic Britpop from a guy who knows his stuff. A couple of tracks seem fillery, but there are enough great hooks elsewhere to make up for that. The US version adds the fantastic "Right to Pop!", so be sure to get that one.… Full Review »
  3. OnionGravy
    Mar 22, 2005
    4
    Wonderful singles, dire album. I feel like many of the reviews I've read are willing the album to be good in the face of the cold, hard Wonderful singles, dire album. I feel like many of the reviews I've read are willing the album to be good in the face of the cold, hard truth - 10 different versions of Coffee & TV and You're So Great, but without the hooks. Coxon is as lost without Allbran as he is without Coxon.… Full Review »
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