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Let's Just Be
by
Let's Just Be Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 16 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the singer-songwriter's first album with new backing band The Lonely Astronauts.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Unfortunately, Arthur drags his backing players through a good deal of hoarsely hollered filler between [the] peaks. [20 Apr 2007, p.62]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Los Angeles Times
    75
    Some more outré passages could have benefited from mad-scientist tinkering. But the mad-Mick Jagger that Arthur affects on the nasty "Cocaine Feet" and elsewhere is still nicely twisted.
  3. Paste Magazine
    70
    A chaotic mix of gorgeous T. Rex acoustic reveries, cheeky Stones-inflected rockers and studio-jam goofiness. [Apr 2007, p.55]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Stylus Magazine
    58
    Let’s Just Be is as poppy and willfully idiosyncratic as Arthur’s older work, but is both more conventionally arranged and more loose-limbed than ever before.
  5. Spin
    50
    A sweaty, first-take orgy that sometimes suggests Tom Waits fronting the Stones, only clumsier. [May 2007, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. AllMusic
    50
    There's an air of sloppy experimentation, of demos and B-sides and other things that probably won't interest more than the heartiest fan.
  7. Pitchfork
    34
    There are a few quality tracks among these 16-- enough for a pretty good EP-- but this is an 80-minute album with at least an hour of stuff on it that sounds at best like studio outtakes.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 5 out of 12
  1. BobW
    Apr 17, 2007
    10
    A great listen. Joseph at his best....
  2. RockQuark
    Apr 17, 2007
    10
    Better than the last one....
  4. Brynn
    Sep 22, 2007
    9
    I live for live music and i love the loose feel of this album. hearing these new songs at the shows made me fall in love. i guess everyone I live for live music and i love the loose feel of this album. hearing these new songs at the shows made me fall in love. i guess everyone sees things differently.… Expand
  5. GeraldW
    Apr 21, 2007
    4
    Disappointing to say the least. Seems he could use a good producer and editor. Redemption's Son is still an all time classic album though
  6. DanM
    Jul 17, 2007
    2
    Big fan of his past work and live shows, but this album is a piece of crap. A few decent tracks here, but overall this should be a giveaway Big fan of his past work and live shows, but this album is a piece of crap. A few decent tracks here, but overall this should be a giveaway of B-sides and outtakes. No one should be charged money for this, there's so little effort in its creation. I'm ok if he wants to change sounds and styles, but put some effort in to the recording. Maybe it should have been released under a different name, to avoid scamming long time fans into buying it.… Expand
  7. JonnyK
    Apr 21, 2007
    2
    I am a big fan of the music of Joseph Arthur, but was very disappointed with his new record. It seems Joseph Arthur got stoned with his I am a big fan of the music of Joseph Arthur, but was very disappointed with his new record. It seems Joseph Arthur got stoned with his friends and made a record. The record is a big mess! I hope his second record coming out this year is not has bad as this one.… Expand
  8. FanThomas
    Apr 18, 2007
    1
    I used to love music of JA up to Redemption's Son and the tours following the release of this album. Since "Our shadow will remain", the I used to love music of JA up to Redemption's Son and the tours following the release of this album. Since "Our shadow will remain", the artist is (is right on this point) the shadow of his prewious work and it is getting worst and worst. Even shows are less exciting. The last very poor album will not make me reconciliate with him.… Collapse

See all 12 User Reviews

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