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  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
The Evening Of My Best Day Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: 'Evening' represents Jones' first album of self-penned material in six years. The roster of guests includes Nels Cline, David Hidalgo, Grant Lee Phillips and Bill Frisell.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. These are pop's most artful anti-Bush statements to date.
  2. Uncut
    90
    Her best in two decades. [Dec 2003, p.120]
  3. Mojo
    80
    Although Evening... has this unexpected core of angry commitment, she's still slick with Californian cruisers. [Nov 2003, p.123]
  4. Q Magazine
    80
    For once, the return to form tag rings true. [Dec 2003, p.129]
  5. An utterly compelling, even riveting, selection of tunes that go from bright to opaque, to dark and back again by album's end.
  6. While political manifestos are never something attractively wedded to song, Jones keeps humanity on the record, mostly with supportive grooves and her tantalizing way with twisting a note.
  7. If things seem schizophrenic it's because they are.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. AFan
    Apr 24, 2006
    10
    To use a timeworn phrase: A very welcome return to her essence. Man, this lady is something special.
  2. RichardH
    Apr 19, 2004
    10
    Uncanny depth and feeling. Powerful anti-Neocon political sentiments that you can sing. More gasoline just waiting for a spark.
  3. MarkR
    Apr 24, 2006
    10
    Like anybody with an association with Nirvana would know the first damn thing about the magnificence of a musical mind like RLJ's. Like anybody with an association with Nirvana would know the first damn thing about the magnificence of a musical mind like RLJ's. Ignore nitwit Charles, and ask yourself: If Rickie's muse had truly deserted her, then what in the hell are Hidalgo, Frisell, and the usual top-drawer studio crowd doing rushing to back her up? Precisely. And therein is the reason you won't find Nirvana types in that same studio. The music demands so much more than that. Expand
  4. FilipeC
    Sep 3, 2004
    9
    Magnificent! heartfelt songs with a political message.
  5. DavidZ
    Dec 21, 2006
    3
    Although her voice is still strong it sounds tired. Her politics do not convince. It's sounds like she's desperate to be relevant Although her voice is still strong it sounds tired. Her politics do not convince. It's sounds like she's desperate to be relevant and will do anything to get attention. This time out she attacks George Bush but she does not seem to be a bright political thinker ala Bob Dylan. Overall, the farther her career slides into obscurity, the more calculating she seems to become. Expand
  6. CharlesD
    Sep 27, 2004
    2
    Nirvana producer Steve Albini said it best "Rickie Lee Jones is Liz Phair: she's a chore to listen to and she's more talked about Nirvana producer Steve Albini said it best "Rickie Lee Jones is Liz Phair: she's a chore to listen to and she's more talked about than heard". Rickie Lee Jones career ambitions may not have died but certainly her muse has. This record is a thin one. Collapse

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