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Harps And Angels
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Harps And Angels Image
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

  • Summary: The first studio album for the singer-songwriter since 1999's "Bad Love" was produced by Mitchell Froom and Lenny Waronker.

Top Track

Losing You
Was a fool with my money And I lost every dime And the sun stopped shining And it rained all the time It did set me back some But I made it... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Hot Press
    100
    Sharp, incisive, funny and at times even heart-rending in the context of some beautifully-judged rag/country/Dixie-land songs.
  2. PopMatters
    90
    Harps and Angels belongs up there with "12 Songs" and "Sail Away" as one of Newman’s greatest works, regardless if he took 20 years to get it out into the public.
  3. The Boston Phoenix
    88
    Yet as welcome as it is to have Newman’s acerbic wit back, it remains a singular pleasure to listen to a simple, devastating ballad like 'Losing You,' which is wrapped up in sympathetic strings and absolutely devoid of irony.
  4. Boston Globe
    80
    40 years after his debut, the curly-haired songwriter continues to play to his strength: three-minute social commentaries that might sound bitter if they weren't so funny.
  5. Uncut
    80
    Newman is at his most affecting when he plays it mercilessly straight: his flickers of sincerity all the more beguiling for only appearing rarely.
  6. Hartford Courant
    80
    A savvy storyteller with an acid-tipped language, Newman packages yarns in a voice that is the sonic equivalent of an Emmett Kelly clown face, naturally hangdog while subtly playful as he reminisces about life's rough patches.
  7. Sputnikmusic
    50
    It's hard to slate Harps and Angels too much, because the music is actually quite good in places and it's nowhere near bad enough to be a chore to listen to.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. MichaelE.
    Aug 8, 2008
    9
    More than in his past, the new album reveals autobiographical moments. Not, because Randy Newman has a message to be delivered (apart from More than in his past, the new album reveals autobiographical moments. Not, because Randy Newman has a message to be delivered (apart from his biting comments on current politics), but because of the disturbing moments and the angst that make the "ego" a vulnerable thing when growing older and older. On the other hand, the sound palette he makes use of (from orchestral to intimate chamber atmosphere) is brilliant and always serving the songs!… Expand
  2. JoeB.
    Sep 10, 2008
    8
    Randy Newman continues to be one of the most important artists out there, right alongside Tom Waits, Neil Young, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen Randy Newman continues to be one of the most important artists out there, right alongside Tom Waits, Neil Young, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen etc. His words sear the listener and force them to take inventory of what's going on around them. His sardonic wit is matched equally by his song craft. His arrangements are edited so precisely, his notes and words chosen so meticulously, it is moments like this in music that truly remind me of how small all of us other practitioners really are. Mr. Newman constantly poses challenges for himself and is apparently not afraid to ruffle a few feathers in the process. Kudos! Music should be dangerous, it should provoke thought and controversy, it should force people to take responsibility for their actions. Unfortunately, the reality is that most of these sentiments will be lost as I'm sure, nobody really cares about this kind of stuff anymore except maybe a small few of us. Thanks Randy, you always remind me that I'm not alone.… Expand
  4. ChrisC.
    Sep 12, 2008
    5
    Too much whining that some people have more money than others. Newman's old stuff was sardonically opinionated while seeming vaguely Too much whining that some people have more money than others. Newman's old stuff was sardonically opinionated while seeming vaguely informed. This just sounds like a lot of angry whining trying to be funny, but only in the 'Everyone else is stupid' way.… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best Album of 2008