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Happiness In Magazines Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

  • Summary: Stephen Street produces the former Blur guitarist's fifth solo disc.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. 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. 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.
  3. Uncut
    80
    His most accessible work since Parklife. [Sep 2004, p.101]
  4. 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.
  5. Exploring the vacated ghosts of stale forms, Coxon has breathed new life into some of rock's most bankable clichés.
  6. Happiness In Magazines is one of the best garage rock hybrids to have been released since The Strokes hit it big.
  7. Shouldn't he be trying something a bit more ambitious by now?

See all 23 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Tuskaj
    Mar 9, 2006
    10
    the best artist rock of the year..... graham coxon is my all.
  2. joaop
    May 18, 2004
    10
    The best album of the year
  3. LiamH
    Feb 8, 2005
    10
    As if he were set free from some heavy restraint, Coxon has put out an exhilarating album of amazing energy. The album takes unusual risks As if he were set free from some heavy restraint, Coxon has put out an exhilarating album of amazing energy. The album takes unusual risks (which all succeed) that really took me by suprise. He sounds as in command of the music as any artist I've heard in recent memory. This is a CD you'll keep listening too and singing along with for a long time... Expand
  4. stuarti
    May 27, 2004
    9
    Possibly the best album of the year.... If this was released by a better known artist, it would sell millions, lets hope people give it a chance.
  5. GordonR
    Jun 3, 2004
    9
    An excellent album that is on a par with any of the best stuff of Blur he was involved in
  6. [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. Expand
  7. EbeneezerGoode
    Jun 21, 2004
    4
    When I bought the album I was fascinated by the Modern Life Is Rubbish Feel. But after a few listens, it turned out that some songs of the When I bought the album I was fascinated by the Modern Life Is Rubbish Feel. But after a few listens, it turned out that some songs of the album were rubbish, not the modern life... Freakin' Out on the other hand is excellent. Collapse

See all 13 User Reviews