The Beautiful Lie - Ed Harcourt
The Beautiful Lie Image
Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: This is the fifth solo album from the prolific English singer-songwriter.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. All Music Guide
    90
    Beautiful Lie is an invigorating and frequently gorgeous affair, essential for old fans and a good place to start for newcomers.
  2. Under The Radar
    80
    As is typical of Harcourt's releases, some selections of The Beautiful Lie require time to reveal themselves, which is why slow-burners such as 'Braille' and 'Good Friends Are Hard to Find' have "buried treasure written all over them. [Spring 2008, p.76] [Spring 2008, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Drowned In Sound
    60
    Despite all of the ingredients for a great album being present, it just doesn’t ignite, perhaps due to the unmoving, maudlin stance from which it is all delivered.
  4. Pitchfork
    19
    The brio of an amateur would almost have to be preferably to the overzealous professionalism of Beautiful Lie, whose frilly "classicist" pop gets all dressed up to go absolutely nowhere.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. RJ
    10
    Absolutely amazing album...new listeners might take some time to warm up to Harcourt's brooding style, but the songs on this album display his sincerity and dramatic flair that has become sort of trademarks of his. This is Harcourt's most complete album to date. Buy it. Listen to it.… Expand
  2. SamR
    9
    Ignore the mixed reviews and get this album. beautiful voice, beautiful harmonies, beautiful songs. 'revolution in my heart' is worth the cover charge alone.… Expand
  3. RennieM
    9
    More 8.5, but a very very strong album... The end of "you always call me when your drunk" is a little unnecessary, but besides that its a stronger album then here be Monsters and right up there with From Every Sphere... With more listens it could possibly be his best. Ignore the critics!!… Expand
  4. MattA.
    9
    I have never gotten the critics lukewarm reaction to Harcourt's albums. While his lyrics haven't always been the best, his music and melodies have always been innovative and beautiful. This album is no different, and it is lyrically his best album to date. This guy deserves better than the so-called critics are giving him.… Expand

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