The Audience's Listening
by Cut Chemist
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Urb
    80
    Apparently channeling Stereolab, Dilated Peoples and the ghost of Esquivel, Cut Chemist finds that everything is fair game if you are witty and skilled enough to connect the dots. [Jun 2006, p.108]
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  2. The Guardian
    60
    He gets through a dizzying number of samples and almost as many genres.
  3. Billboard
    80
    Expertly tows the line between old-school hip-hop homage and forward-looking experimentation.
  5. PopMatters
    70
    It’s DJ music for the casual fan, something you don’t need to be a knob-twiddler or connoisseur of the break beat to appreciate or enjoy.
  6. NOW Magazine
    20
    The Audience's Listening is kinda like a Fatboy Slim B-sides collection circa 1998 without the catchy bits.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Cut Chemist makes frisky, gleeful funk that touches on Brazilian samba, surf rock, and even polka, without losing the beat. [21 Jul 2006, p.70]
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  8. Stylus Magazine
    75
    If Cut Chemist can recreate the effortless fusion of the album's second half, perhaps someday he can make an album worth listening to from beginning to end.
  9. Uncut
    70
    This is more than mere virtuoso performance. [Aug 2006, p.90]
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  10. Mojo
    70
    Chemist eschews masturbatory scratch showcases in favour of artfully constructed, utterly oddball 'songs'. [Aug 2006, p.103]
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  11. RapReviews.com
    90
    It might be too early to call Cut Chemist's "The Audience's Listening" a masterpiece in 2006, let alone in the pantheon of all-time great turntablist albums like "Wave Twisters," but Cut Chemist defintely proves here that branching out from Jurassic 5 to pursue a solo career was anything but a mistake.
  12. AllMusic
    70
    Necessary if you like that wikki-wikki-scratch; recommended if you enjoy impossible pop and hip-hop from the fringe.
  13. Village Voice
    80
    The Audience's Listening is not only witty and lighthearted, but also artfully constructed, and you can hear the depth in its machinations.
  14. Lost At Sea
    80
    The Audience’s Listening is artistic, witty, comprehensive, technical, but most important of all it isn’t pretentious.
  15. The A.V. Club
    91
    Strap on some headphones and enjoy the ride.
  16. Alternative Press
    100
    Each of the dozen tracks on his debut is a fully realized vignette that makes a particular locale startlingly vivid. [Sep 2006, p.230]
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Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best Album of 2006
87
#87 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. DavidN
    Aug 25, 2006
    9
    Very enjoyable, reminds me in parts of Kid Koala's "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" (which is no bad thing) and the tracks that feature emcees Very enjoyable, reminds me in parts of Kid Koala's "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" (which is no bad thing) and the tracks that feature emcees demonstrate that he was right to cut his ties with J5 (Their disappointing new album shows how much he's missed) in that he's able to get away from the old skool vibe that J5 favoured. My highlights are The Garden (obviously), What's The Altitude? and Spoon. Highly recommended.… Full Review »
  2. LawrenceP
    Aug 15, 2006
    8
    A real fun and exciting ride that will put a smile on your face. Fav track is the funky "A Peak In Time." This is more worthwhile your money A real fun and exciting ride that will put a smile on your face. Fav track is the funky "A Peak In Time." This is more worthwhile your money than the latest J5 release. If you like older RJD2 or newer DJ SHADOW, pick this one up...it will hit the spot.… Full Review »
  3. TLR
    Jul 18, 2006
    10
    This album is great because it is a lot more inviting than most DJ albums. The DJ as outsider or the DJ as host to innumerable MC's has This album is great because it is a lot more inviting than most DJ albums. The DJ as outsider or the DJ as host to innumerable MC's has worn the path. This is refreshing in that it has a place for the listener to give as wel as receive. Good job!!!… Full Review »
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