Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Like Kid A's little brother, Manic Expressive pops and gurgles through spacey, multi-textured compositions.
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    Both soothing and exhilarating. [Jan 2002, p.84]
  3. This is mellow, ambient electronica that takes its time in getting where it's going, and rewards patient listeners.
  4. Magnet
    80
    Merging synth orchestration and genuine strings ins't new, but [Marc] bianchi pushes the form toward and organic/technological inevitable. [#52, p.89]
  5. A rather mousey, introspective record, awash with the wishy-washy sounds of shoegazing, and yet not without its precise, audacious moments.
  6. If the whole album had the strength of the final track, I would be seriously pleased. But it does not. Rather, Manic Expressive as a whole sounds like a failed attempt at a) minimalism, b) ambient, and c) IDM.
  7. Q Magazine
    60
    The embryo that is Manic Expressive promises much from the future. [Nov 2001, p.122]
  8. Shredding Paper
    80
    If there is a problem with Expressive, it's that it now sounds as if Bianchi may be copping to trends.... But overall, the moody synthetics suit his style. [#11]
  9. Uncut
    50
    Air and Zero 7 are perhaps the nearest reference points. [Dec 2001, p.106]
  10. Urb
    70
    Next to the Eels and Atmosphere, eclectic and earnest self-examination hasn't sounded this interesting (not to mention entertaining) in a while. [Aug 2002, p.118]
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. ChrisF
    Jul 31, 2006
    9
    yeah, don't hate. having heard his other two hsh albums first, i think it's easy to appreciate that this is an excellent electronic yeah, don't hate. having heard his other two hsh albums first, i think it's easy to appreciate that this is an excellent electronic starting point from which he built two other good albums. Best: The Young Machines, great: Manic Expressive, good: The Past Presents the Future. Full Review »