User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 16 out of 19
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Mixed: 1 out of 19
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Negative: 2 out of 19
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Nov 24, 2020Walter Reed alone would earn this album ten. The rest is almost as good, and up till now (2020) this is the best longplayer from Michael Penn.
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WXOct 28, 2005I'm sorry... was I snoring? MP has a way of slicking me to sleep with that wash of gloss he puts over his moldering style and rusted-out concepts. Thanks for the nap.
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RandyCOct 3, 2005
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DennisKSep 27, 2005Fantastic songs, beutiful instrumentation. My one knock on this disc is that I think Michael would benefit from an outside producer (to help with maybe some sonic diversity, as well as the overall mix & mastering). That's really being nitpicky though, as this is an incredible album, both lyrically and musically.
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CindyGSep 27, 2005After nearly two months of repeated listenings, this album continues to reveal itself to me. MHJ 1947 is one of the most finely crafted pop albums of the year. And it's pretty darn hooky too.
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MikeCSep 27, 2005
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megSep 27, 2005Another masterpiece from one of the best singer-songwriters around.
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AdamWSep 27, 2005Layers upon layers of both sound and meaning yield rewards even after repeated listenings. The "1947 concept album" stuff has been overblown. You don't have to be a history buff to enjoy melodic songcraft with an intelligent edge.
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KenHSep 17, 2005I applaud Penn's ambition in creating a concept album in an era where such things are scorned or misunderstood; however, the songcraft of this effort misses the mark based on the high pop standards set by his previous efforts. I've always respected Penn's cerebral lyrical style but these songs are too heady and gloomy for my taste.
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BlisterfishCafeAug 18, 2005
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MichaelAAug 13, 2005
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JanaLAug 12, 2005Best Yet.
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KellySAug 10, 2005fantastic
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SpencerLAug 9, 2005Masterwork from one of the best Power Pop artists around.
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Penn’s most unified sounding record.
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When it works, like on the rousing, sentimental opener "Walter Reed," "On Automatic" and "Mary Lynn," Penn knocks the ball into the bleachers, but there's an over-flow of mid-tempo pieces about halfway through that bring the record to a standstill.
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BlenderHappily, this structure is as mercifully loose as Penn's melodies are tight. [Aug 2005, p.113]