Hymns Of The 49th Parallel
by k.d. lang
  • Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Jul 27, 2004
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21

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  1. JimW
    Aug 7, 2004
    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.
  2. J.R.Schrier
    Aug 13, 2004
    4
    k.d. must've had more important things on her mind than recording a CD worth listening to. She's just not in it! And she sounds like Karen Carpenter.

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. The Guardian
    80
    Easily the best of her extensive catalogue of covers albums.
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  2. Village Voice
    70
    What makes this work, beyond Lang's ability to control both prickly and inspiring material, is her sensuality.
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  3. Billboard
    80
    Every song becomes her own, with each one having just the right amount of torch and twang.
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