Our Pathetic Age
by DJ Shadow
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. denizenX
    Nov 20, 2019
    10
    Since Endtroducing and The Private Press, this is THE album longtime DJ Shadow fans have been waiting for. I say this without any hype or melodrama as I've been following Shadow since 1996 and have truly enjoyed much of his work in between. That being said, as a devout fan myself, there has been a lingering longing to see Shadow release an album that has the same sense of appeal andSince Endtroducing and The Private Press, this is THE album longtime DJ Shadow fans have been waiting for. I say this without any hype or melodrama as I've been following Shadow since 1996 and have truly enjoyed much of his work in between. That being said, as a devout fan myself, there has been a lingering longing to see Shadow release an album that has the same sense of appeal and progression that his first two albums embodied. Well the wait is over as he has finally tapped into the genius that created his best two pieces of work. What we get is essentially a double album with two distinct themes. The first record being a completely instrumental production with Shadow flexing his inner mad professor. There is a sense of darkness as the album is topical and about 'Our Pathetic Age'. T bough dark, it is refreshing and keeps you completely glued in. The second half is where things get crazy as this is Shadow doing what he does best, progressive hip hop. The guest list is truly staggering as it features Nas, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Run The Jewels, Gift Of Gab, Pusha T, and Pharaoh Monvh to name a few.. There is also an obvious sense of commitment from the artists as every track is full of vigorous substance related to the album's theme. Rain On Snow (w the 3 Wu Tang heads) heads, Drone Warfare and Kings & Queens stand out as premium cuts that will make everyone's 2019 best of playlist. Essentially, the second half could very well be nominated as a contender for best hip hop album of 2019 (and then some). Everything is fresh, vibrant, and stays true to what underground hip hop used to sound like. It is completely mumble-trap free and flexes a sense of grittiness that reminds me of the genre's golden era with a modern vibe. Yes, it's that good. What you end up with is easily one of DJ Shadow's best albums to date, and is one that will assuredly be embraced by his loyal fanbase. Though I've had a handful of full listening sessions, it will take some time to completely digest this mammoth production. I had the same experience with Entroducing so let's say that's a good sign. The second album is where the… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Uncut
    Jan 8, 2020
    60
    A double LP by name, but distant cousins rather than telepathic twins. [Feb 2020, p.33]
  2. The Wire
    Dec 9, 2019
    80
    DJ Shadow’s latest is a hulking, 26 track beast that shifts from uptempo breakbeat and rubbery electropop to string-laden suites with relative ease. ... With synthesized tones ranging from lush to jarring, the instrumentals indicate the ear for texture that has characterised Shadow’s work since 1996’s Entroducing. [Jan 2020, p.69]
  3. AllMusic
    Nov 25, 2019
    60
    Like the online living some of the rappers rail against, the album can be fatiguing with extended periods of exposure, and there's an excess of information to process.
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