Overgrown
by James Blake
  • Record Label: Polydor
  • Release Date: Apr 9, 2013
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 187 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 178 out of 187
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 187
  3. Negative: 3 out of 187
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  1. axelkoch
    May 12, 2013
    5
    Averagely, Overgrown is a bit better than his self-titled debut, but while he starts off with what probably is his best song to date and impresses the listener with unique collaborations with hip hop star RZA and legendary producer Brian Eno, Blake isn’t able to maintain this quality throughout the 40-minute-LP. His mixture of electronic and soul is just as interesting and well-done as onAveragely, Overgrown is a bit better than his self-titled debut, but while he starts off with what probably is his best song to date and impresses the listener with unique collaborations with hip hop star RZA and legendary producer Brian Eno, Blake isn’t able to maintain this quality throughout the 40-minute-LP. His mixture of electronic and soul is just as interesting and well-done as on James Blake and his EPs, but he suffers from the same issues as on them: incomprehensible lyrics and monotonous repetitions of phrases, which is something I can’t fully enjoy no matter how hard I try.… Expand
  2. StrawberryBlond
    Apr 22, 2013
    5
    This is a rather odd album. From the snippets, I wasn't expecting it to be so electronic based. Turns out that James Blake is actually quite into experimenting with dubstep and various electronic arrangements. Problem is, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. The tracks Life Round Here, Digital Lion and Voyeur were examples of how it was rather grating, but the other 8 tracks areThis is a rather odd album. From the snippets, I wasn't expecting it to be so electronic based. Turns out that James Blake is actually quite into experimenting with dubstep and various electronic arrangements. Problem is, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. The tracks Life Round Here, Digital Lion and Voyeur were examples of how it was rather grating, but the other 8 tracks are much more appealing, although I struggled to find anything that was better than "ok."… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best Album of 2013
67
#67 Most Discussed Album of 2013
62
#62 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    Jul 29, 2013
    90
    Overgrown continues to build on a fantastic reputation: one that much like his music is aided by layer and layer of calculated additions that all together showcases one of music’s most gifted composers.
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  2. Magnet
    May 10, 2013
    80
    Overgrown is a fuller, more heated album than its predecessor, denser and more tender. [No. 98, p.52]
  3. The Quietus
    Apr 30, 2013
    50
    Blake may have dispensed with some of the more experimental and emotionally obtuse trappings of his debut album on Overgrown in an attempt to engage more directly with a wider audience, but his intentions are all but drowned out by a thick glass porthole being hammered on feverishly by a dozen drowning onlookers.
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