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Long Way Down Image
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut full-length release for the British singer-songwriter who won the 2013 BRITs Critic Choice Award.
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Top Track

Another Love
I wanna take you somewhere so you know I care, But it's so cold and I don't know where I brought you daffodils, in a pretty string, But they won't... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Negative: 3 out of 14
  1. Long Way Down has just enough flaws to show that Odell has room to grow and progress. If you listen to one pop album this year, this is a pretty good bet.
  2. Mojo
    Jun 18, 2013
    80
    Stripped back to vocals, drums and piano not a million miles from Nick Cave's Boatman's Call, of 10 tracks, not one's a duffer. [May 2013, p.87]
  3. Jun 20, 2013
    80
    There's also something a little too contained, cling-filmed and... Keane-ey about it's measured percussion and guitar swells. Which leaves you feeling that although this is a very good record by a very talented young artist, it's probably not a patch on catching him live.
  4. Q Magazine
    Jun 18, 2013
    60
    There are too many songs here set to the same humdrum pace. But those are the sort of flaws you expect from a debut. [May 2013, p.112]
  5. Jun 20, 2013
    60
    He may yet rise above the glut of similar-sounding Sheehans, Buggs and Mumfords, but hasn't yet found his voice.
  6. Uncut
    Jun 18, 2013
    60
    For the most part, though, Long Way Down is relentless in its pursuit of a teen audience easily won over by a sensitive man-boy who knows his way around a piano. [May 2013, p.75]
  7. He specialises in staggeringly banal lyrics ("Grow old with me", "When you hold me in your arms I can feel your heart") delivered in an overwrought cry-baby warble, and song structures with big predictable sub-Keane, sub-Arcade Fire crescendos.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Nov 30, 2022
    10
    10 years ago, listening to this album was the first time I loved an entire album top to bottom no exceptions. It was magical.
  2. Feb 11, 2018
    10
    Melhor que o jake Bugg, ed sheeran e shawn mendes juntos. Príncipe que fala de amor e da vida adulta de forma madura, sem usar clichês praMelhor que o jake Bugg, ed sheeran e shawn mendes juntos. Príncipe que fala de amor e da vida adulta de forma madura, sem usar clichês pra chamar a atenção de adolescentes. Expand
  3. Nov 21, 2021
    9
    Great debut for Brits critique winner of the year it was released and much deserved.
  4. Jun 29, 2013
    7
    Good, sing along tracks. Nothing ground breaking.
    I get the feeling there is a lot more to come this guy, and this album does not do him
    Good, sing along tracks. Nothing ground breaking.
    I get the feeling there is a lot more to come this guy, and this album does not do him justice. Hopefully I'm right.
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  5. Jul 5, 2013
    7
    Forget the shallow arguments against Tom Odell, 'Long Way Down' is actually a characteristic debut album with some impressive vocalForget the shallow arguments against Tom Odell, 'Long Way Down' is actually a characteristic debut album with some impressive vocal performances and singalong-inducing melodies. It's not innovative and doesn't bring anything new to the table; but it doesn't even have to. Standouts include 'Another Love', 'Can't Pretend', 'I Know', and 'Hold Me'. Expand
  6. Sep 10, 2013
    6
    http://osianlewis.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/tom-odell-long-way-down-album-review.html

    'Again, I repeat: this is not a bad record. I'm sure
    http://osianlewis.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/tom-odell-long-way-down-album-review.html

    'Again, I repeat: this is not a bad record. I'm sure it'll bring pleasure to those who know what they like and who like straight forward singer songwriters who perform with passion. That said, due to the few feathers the album has in its cap in terms of variety, lyrical quality and originality; the album is weaker than it could have been. I think it's a long way up for Tom Odell if he wants to build a career off of this record. 6/10'
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  7. Jun 18, 2014
    5
    There is some originality that Tom Odell lacks, but that isn't the problem. With a few decent tracks such as "Another Love" it does show thatThere is some originality that Tom Odell lacks, but that isn't the problem. With a few decent tracks such as "Another Love" it does show that his talent is really only in his singing voice, because Tom Odell's songwriting talents are a bit over cliched and dismal. Sure, his emotional voice can really impact you, but most of the time you can't take him seriously with the over-romanticized and almost shirt-tugging lyrics of songs like "Hold Me" or any other track of the album. Now you might say that Adele does the same thing, but she does it well. What Adele has is impactfullness, you will not be impacted by any song on this album, except for "Another Love". If his goal was to create an emotionally deep album, then this is as deep as a kiddie pool. Tom Odell treads in shallow water, so it really isn't a long way down for him. Expand

See all 8 User Reviews