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The Handler
by
The Handler Image
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: Har Mar's third disc features contributions from Northern State and members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and was produced by John Fields (Andrew WK).

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 13
  3. Negative: 3 out of 13
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Har Mar's best effort to date. [4 Sep 2004, p.72]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Dot Music
    80
    Essentially a homage to The Jackson 5/Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and fellow Minnesotan Prince, "The Handler" proves that Har Mar possesses a fine R&B baritone, is an able rapper and pens exceedingly funky, party-primed tunes with a perfect pop core.
  3. Urb
    80
    Har Mar wraps glorious, melodic R&B styled hooks around lyrics that sound dangerously inappropriate coming out of the mouths of matrons in minivans. [Sep 2004, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. The Guardian
    60
    That he carries off this foolishness is down to sweat and vocal chords.
  5. Filter
    60
    The Handler is no doubt marred by some tasteless postcoital nyuks... and outdated references. [#12, p.97]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. AllMusic
    50
    The Handler shows that Har Mar Superstar can also give new meaning to the term "trying too hard."
  7. Pitchfork
    19
    The Handler only meagerly amplifies what he was already doing, probably pleasing his no doubt respectable cadre of core followers, but handily turning off the rest of humanity.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. GaryG
    Oct 27, 2004
    10
    The perfect pop album. I really don't understand the anger this guy seems to elicit from some people, because the music is like cotton The perfect pop album. I really don't understand the anger this guy seems to elicit from some people, because the music is like cotton candy ... with a healthy dollop of innuendo.… Expand
  2. RichardL
    Sep 10, 2004
    10
    This is pure, sparkling pop ... in a world where "pop" somehow became a dirty world. Ignore the haters. This is the most joyous album of the year.
  4. GaryD
    Sep 16, 2004
    10
    Pitchfork hates the fucking thing .... which means I ran to the store to pick it up. Guess what? It really is a great record. It has hooks Pitchfork hates the fucking thing .... which means I ran to the store to pick it up. Guess what? It really is a great record. It has hooks galore, variety, and has the potential to be very popular. In short, it's pretty much everything the hipster assholes at Pitchfork hate ... and the rest of the world responds to. … Expand
  5. DavidH
    Feb 20, 2005
    9
    What we have here, particularly in pitch fork's review, is a jealousy that a guy as schlubby as Har Mar gets laid ten times more than What we have here, particularly in pitch fork's review, is a jealousy that a guy as schlubby as Har Mar gets laid ten times more than any album reviewer. Most of these reviews spend more time deriding Sean's sexuality than judging the music, and trying to tell Sean that "the joke's over." This album proves that the joke has become the truth. You can stop laughing. The point is mute. A great album.… Expand
  6. Matt
    Oct 9, 2004
    1
    He gets 1 for having a more aesthetically pleasing album cover this time around. To whoever said people hate Har-Mar because "pop has become He gets 1 for having a more aesthetically pleasing album cover this time around. To whoever said people hate Har-Mar because "pop has become a dirty word"... The reason Har-Mar isn't that listenable is because his music has terrible production values. He can't rap, he can't really carry a tune... In what way is this pop music, in any real sense of the word? Har-Mar Superstar is a novelty act that has ceased to remain novel long ago. Please, Sean, stop this. You can do better.… Expand
  7. KoenDeCrock
    Sep 27, 2004
    0
    hahahahahahahahaha. How the f**** can anyone like this pile of sh**. It is bad musically, vocally and it isn't even funny.

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