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Keys To The World
by
Keys To The World Image
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 67 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the third solo album for the former Verve frontman.

Top Track

Break The Night With Colour
Fools they think I do not know The road I'm taking If you meet me on the way Hesitating That is just because I know which way I will choose The... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19
  1. Uncut
    80
    The qualities that once made The Verve the nation's top anthemists are recognisably intact on this new effort, from its stately pace to its burnished sense of grandeur. [Feb 2006, p.70]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Q Magazine
    70
    Rarely has he sung this well. [Feb 2006, p.99]
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  3. AllMusic
    60
    Not terribly different [from 'Human Conditions'], though certainly more pastoral and perhaps more middle of the road.
  4. Drowned In Sound
    60
    A deeply personal, occasionally lifeless but equally insightful passage into the latest chapter of Richard Ashcroft's life story.
  5. Spin
    50
    More corny than convincing. [May 2006, p.91]
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  6. The Guardian
    40
    Give or take the odd tweak - a Bittersweet Symphony-ish orchestral sample on Music Is Power, some dated-sounding world music influence on the title track - Keys to the World sticks fast to the blueprint: soft-rock plod, songs that abandon verses and choruses in favour of dragging out a simple chord sequence to the point of distraction.
  7. Billboard
    20
    [Ashcroft] possesses one of the definitive rock voices and has an undeniable gift for melody, but he pairs those talents here with truly insipid lyrics and uninspired MOR arrangements.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 49
  3. Negative: 11 out of 49
  1. elenip
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Richard is so talended that hearing him live made me love him more and enjoy his songs more after that.
  2. [Anonymous]
    Mar 1, 2006
    10
    Great work from the best singer and songwriter in a world.
  4. MarcA
    Jul 27, 2006
    9
    A great and simple album from Richard Ashcroft.
  5. PavelM
    Feb 5, 2006
    8
    Not superb, but some songs remind me the best verve.
  6. PeterH
    Feb 8, 2006
    7
    it's not for everyone to understand melancholy well done. this is music for those who can see beyond mere technique without being simple it's not for everyone to understand melancholy well done. this is music for those who can see beyond mere technique without being simple and naive emotional listeners.… Expand
  7. chrisp
    Feb 2, 2006
    4
    I am a biut unique I think in that I am a huge Verve fan, and also huge solo Ashcroft fan without comparing him to his former band. It seems I am a biut unique I think in that I am a huge Verve fan, and also huge solo Ashcroft fan without comparing him to his former band. It seems either people like him solo or don't because they always comapre him to the Verve. He has 2 sides with solo work- 1 darker, edgier and real (Check the Meaning, God in Numbers, etc) but also a more over-produced, cheesy, preachy side with no edge- and that is exactly what this whole CD is- highyl overproduced, tons of generic coldplay type lyrics with a supposed message- he is so soft bordering much more on Neil Diamond than John Lennon- very dissapointed, was excited for this, especially after the single Break te Night which is by far the darkest and edgiest on the CD… Expand
  8. Mr.T
    Feb 1, 2006
    0
    What a gigantic turd of a record! Time for this guy to hang it up. I cannot believe this is the same man who used to shout "THIS IS ROCK N What a gigantic turd of a record! Time for this guy to hang it up. I cannot believe this is the same man who used to shout "THIS IS ROCK N ROLL!". It is rock n roll anymore, and it's clearly not any good.… Expand

See all 49 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Most Discussed Album of 2006

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