Idlewild - Outkast
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 66 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 66
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 66
  3. Negative: 5 out of 66

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  1. ChadM
    Sep 1, 2006
    3
    There is nothing new or inventive on this album, there sound seems to be getting old, while at the same time, straying from what made them who they are. I know they are expiramental and trying to do something special but they just seem to miss the boat with this one.
  2. MiguelS
    Sep 8, 2006
    4
    Sorry, y'all, but this album is a major disappointment. Anyone who thinks "Mighty O" is a good soul/pop song needs to RUN out and buy some Motown. See what you're missing!
  3. ChrisW
    Sep 23, 2006
    1
    Outkast is just adding to the demise of Hip-Hop. Please somebody... make Hip-Hop return!!!!!
  4. KmanS
    Oct 21, 2006
    1
    By far the worst hip hop album ive heard this year. Extremly disappointed. There is nothing much more to say.
  5. GaborA
    Aug 28, 2006
    4
    Despite certain reviews Outkast is not "expanding the boudries of rap." Perhaps they're expanding the boundries of pop, thus becoming pop artists. Its unfortunate that the more Andre tries to become artistic and unique the more he becomes just an entertainment pop act. Outkast used to let their lyrics define them. Now that their verses are pretty much gone they have to relly on antics and "being different" to gain an edge. Big Boi still spits it raw sometimes and Andre hits a unique key every now and then but its so little that it just frustrates more than anything reminding you how much potential they still have and how amazing they used to be back when you went to grab their new album and it had an explicit content sticker on it and six 12 year old girls werent in front of you in line holding the same album. After Speackerboxx/The Suck Below i had my fingers crossed for three years. I guess I cant uncross them just yet.… Expand
  6. TomasK.
    Aug 25, 2006
    0
    Outkast sucks
  7. Ryanss
    Jul 26, 2007
    3
    Every Outkast album is extremely original and innovative and pushes the boundaries of where pop and hip hop music blend and this could have been a great opportunity to update sounds from music's past and make them hip again but they failed on this record. I was so disappointed by this record that I couldn't even listen to it twice... The lyrics were alright in most of the songs but the production seemed like it was lacking that huge sound that has run through their last few albums. Its hard to explain but that was one of the things that i noticed when i was trying to understand what went wrong. They have recently had a guest appearance in UGK song and it really worked so I hope that is a sign of improvement... oh and another thing... why is it that hip hop artists rely so much on skits or in this case parts of the movie... It is usually interesting the first time you listen but gets old so fast. I think a lot of hip hop albums would be more timeless without the skits. just my opinion though...… Expand
  8. RonaldOVOXO
    Jan 1, 2012
    4
    This album is classy and i thought i was going to enjoy it. But i barely did. Even though it had class. It just made me miss the Outkast from "ATLiens", "Aquemini", "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik", & Stankonia, Dont get me wrong i did like "Speakerboxx/The Love below but not as much as the other classics

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Rolling Stone
    80
    Their weirdest music yet. [24 Aug 2006, p.89]
  2. The Guardian
    80
    Ambitious but flawed, at turns stunning, maddening and confusing, Idlewild is a curate's egg - but the good parts are implausibly delicious.
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  3. Entertainment Weekly
    58
    OutKast have stretched rap's boundaries to the breaking point before, but this time their experiments come across as gimmicky or strained.
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See all critic reviews »