Never Never Land - UNKLE
  • Band Name: UNKLE
  • Record Label: Mo Wax
  • Release Date: Oct 26, 2004
Never Never Land Image
Metascore
66 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: U.N.K.L.E. is the pet project of Mo'Wax label head James Lavelle, whose successful 1998 album 'Psyence Fiction' included notable contributions from DJ Shadow, Thom Yorke and Badly Drawn Boy. Guests this time out include Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age), Robert "3D" del Naja (Massive Attack), Brian Eno, Ian Brown (Stone Roses), Mani (Stone Roses/Primal Scream) Joel Cadbury (South) and Jarvis Cocker (Pulp).… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Stylus Magazine
    84
    Never, Never, Land exposes Lavelle and File as, surprisingly, excellent songwriters with an ear for a good chorus and a knack to fitting performers and material together.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    At 60 minutes plus, it’s too long, and neither Cocker and Eno’s ambient doodle nor 3D’s ‘Invasion’ work. But, nonetheless, ‘Never...’ is sleek, deep and full of ideas.
  3. Blender
    60
    The pulse underscoring the album keeps it hopping when the songs meander. [Nov 2004, p.142]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Billboard
    30
    Tends more toward the "dance" elements of IDM than the "intelligent," reducing UNKLE's trip-hop origins and innovative beats to overdrawn synth wank-fests.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. PoldoG.
    10
    Whaaat??!? Only one thing. This is by far one of the best CDs of the year 2003.
  2. MilanG
    8
    Wery refresing album...
  3. Cybergroove.ca
    7
    DJ Spooky´s getting in a Peter Pan mood but respects the overall sound production quality of an ambiant CD. This is not a commercial album but any song that could merge into Ozzy's ''Changes'' is the genius of the month ! The most exquisite song on the album is definitly GLOW.… Expand
  4. MacM
    4
    The absence of DJ Shadow is as apparant as the absence of dignity from the Pop Idol virus. Every song is like a giant crow trying desperately to take off, flapping it's mighty wings furiously yet frustratingly not quite getting off the ground. The Ian Brown led 'Reign' is the best on offer - greatness which still manages to fall short of his 'Be There' collaboration circa Psyence Fiction. But while Psyence Fiction always was destined to be a tough act to follow (entrenched in my personal top 3 albums of all time), this overpolished but underfinished effort doesn't even relate.… Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Rumours [35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Fleetwood Mac
    Metascore: 99
  2. Sunbather - Deafheaven
    Metascore: 97
  3. Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 - Miles Davis Quintet
    Metascore: 92
  4. Jama Ko - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
    Metascore: 90
  5. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
    Metascore: 89
  6. Southeastern - Jason Isbell
    Metascore: 89
  7. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
    Metascore: 88
  8. Your Turn - Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
    Metascore: 88
  9. The Graceless Age - John Murry
    Metascore: 88
  10. Minute by Minute - The James Hunter Six
    Metascore: 88
  11. M B V - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 87
  12. Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper
    Metascore: 87
  13. Yeezus - Kanye West
    Metascore: 87
  14. Beautiful Africa - Rokia Traoré
    Metascore: 87
  15. Once I Was an Eagle - Laura Marling
    Metascore: 87
  16. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
    Metascore: 87
  17. LSXX [Last Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition] - The Breeders
    Metascore: 87
  18. Annie Up - Pistol Annies
    Metascore: 87
  19. Without a Net - Wayne Shorter
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »