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Songbird
by
Songbird Image
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 17 Ratings

  • Summary: Youngster Ryan Adams produced this 11-song mix of originals and covers, which also includes musical backing from Adams' band The Cardinals.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Nelson's finest in a decade.
  2. AllMusic
    80
    His easy delivery, contrasted with Adams wiry production, creates an emotionally honest, deeply moving recording with the best traits of both men shining forth.
  3. Uncut
    80
    The sound is urgent and instinctive. [Dec 2006, p.124]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. PopMatters
    70
    Adams should be commended for doing a fine job of showing off Nelson’s considerable talents on a diverse collection of songs and styles.
  5. NOW Magazine
    60
    It's apparent Nelson doesn't share Adams's enthusiasm for the Fleetwood Mac and Grateful Dead numbers, but he's at home with Gram Parsons's $1,000 Wedding and Leonard Cohen's well-covered Hallelujah.
  6. Prefix Magazine
    55
    Ultimately Songbird feels a bit rushed, and when you have as gifted a songwriter as Adams working with as gifted a songwriter as the Red-Headed Stranger, it's a bit of a letdown to ponder what they could have done.
  7. Village Voice
    30
    [It] feels more like record label franchise building--"And let's get Willie to sing a Grateful Dead song!" "Cool!"--than an actual, like, album.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 4 out of 12
  1. jonnyl
    Nov 2, 2006
    10
    Album of the year.
  2. RickC
    Nov 11, 2006
    10
    Nice
  4. VickyT
    Nov 19, 2006
    10
    come on it is Wllie nelson!!!!!!!!!!
  5. JonW
    Oct 31, 2006
    8
    Fantastic
  6. ChrisS
    Nov 6, 2006
    6
    I think that some of these reviews are a tad unfair; what did slant magazine's "dissapointed" reviewer expect this to sound like? Ryan I think that some of these reviews are a tad unfair; what did slant magazine's "dissapointed" reviewer expect this to sound like? Ryan Adams' recent tendencies towards amelodic guitar fills (strangely prevalent on a song they don't belong in, "Stella Blue") don't really work with Willie's voice, but the quality of the arrangement is inescapable. I like this album, but I don't love it like I thought I would when I heard it was coming out. It seems like Adams picked covers for himself to sing, had his band play them, but then allowed another singularly talented artist to add his stamp, to mixed results. It could have been better, sure, but I'm not dissapointed.… Expand
  7. ToddW
    Oct 31, 2006
    3
    This is an emperor has no clothes review. Someone has to tell Willie to just stop. He's trying so hard to be Sewerstream viable that This is an emperor has no clothes review. Someone has to tell Willie to just stop. He's trying so hard to be Sewerstream viable that he's veering dangerously close to Janet Jackson territory. At least we won't have to worry about 'Ol Willie having a wardrobe malfunction. More like a wardrobe conflagration from either the marijuana or his biodiesel catching him on fire. I sat in the front row at one of his concerts 25 years ago and there was no better showman. However, if he continues on this path he should get on his bus, fire up the French fries, and take it back to Luckenbach, Texas. Or maybe make his next album with that other cultural cockroach, Keith Richards.… Expand
  8. ChrisB
    Nov 6, 2006
    0
    Absolutely horrible

See all 12 User Reviews

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