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Hymns Of The 49th Parallel - k.d. lang
Hymns Of The 49th Parallel Image
Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The Canadian singer-songwriter's Nonesuch debut features covers of songs by other Canadian singer-songwriters, including Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Ron Sexsmith, Jane Siberry, and William Shatner. (OK, so maybe not the last one.) There's also one lang original for good measure.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Blender
    90
    Every track is stellar. [Aug 2004, p.133]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. The Guardian
    80
    Easily the best of her extensive catalogue of covers albums.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    58
    What's missing are distinctive arrangements or emotional interpretations of the material that would stake lang's own claim to these songs. [30 Jul 2004, p.69]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. DaveM
    10
    Wow, I just discovered this cd after hearing a bit of k.d.'s interpretation of "Helpless" on 'Brothers and Sisters.' What an incredible cd. Truly.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. TracieH
    10
    kd has a voice like no other. I think that she could take any song and make it her own. She is passionate about her music. Love the ablum.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JimW
    5
    Relatively soulless interpretations of songs you know by heart. Great that k.d. plays tribute to Canada, but when Neil Young sings "Helpless," you hear the helpless in his voice. Here, it's words lacking the feeling that the original songwriter poured into each song. "Bird on a Wire" is about as close as it gets.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 15 User Reviews

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