Live Like You Were Dying Image
Metascore

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

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: 'Dying' once again finds the country star backed on record by his touring band, the Dancehall Doctors.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. The young hell-raiser has grown to be one of modern country's most compelling and multidimensional artists.
  2. Always a risk-taker, he remains fearless in his choice of material, evident here on sweeping, observant fare like "Drugs or Jesus" and the ultimately redemptive "Kill Myself."
  3. McGraw's album leans heavily on the soap opera-ish tales that have brought him his biggest successes. [5 Sep 2004]
  4. 20
    Material which says something, but feels nothing real. [Nov 2004, p.95]

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. [Anonymous]
    10
    This album is amazing. Extremely powerful, especially "Kill Myself"
  2. SusanC
    10
    It would be worth getting hold of this CD just for the title track alone - it's that good. However, there are other gems here as well as 'Live Like You Were Dying' - most notably 'Drugs or Jesus', which is a great, not just a good, song. If the New York Times thinks the material on this album and Tim' McGraw's singing is 'ordinary' I can only conclude that the author is / was absolutely tone deaf. Ignore critics like this and just get hold of this CD! Expand
  3. BenS
    10
    I love his newest CD. He seems to be expressing his emotions very well, almost too well for some likeing, but I enjoy it. This CD is not one that will be "overly played" like some CDs can do. I believe the honest point throughout his songs give it a little originality. Expand
  4. RobM
    6
    Like many McGraw albums, probably this will repay repeat listening, but as usual, there's way too much material on here, and some of it is weak. The title track is excellent, and there are one or two other gems, but then some of the others really drag. I think "Drugs or Jesus" is a great title but a missed opportunity, the song doesn't live up to its name. Less is more, my opinion, and very few albums can stand to be longer than 40 minutes or so. Losing half a dozen of these tracks would have lifted the overall quality. As for his voice, it's okay, but does sound over-processed in places (too much of the Exciter). The band are great, and it's unusual for an artist to record with his road band, so well done for that. Expand

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