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The Harsh Light of Day
by
The Harsh Light of Day Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

Top Track

You're An Ocean
Can you make it easier For me to understand How you're holding my heart In your trembling hands? Eyes that rise to meet me halfway Up among the... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Spin Cycle
    80
    Their third release has no apparent monster single like "The Way," but the recording as a whole contains a higher number of strong songs. It rocks harder, and the band's previously overpowering influences--most notably Elvis Costello--are now beautifully integrated into a more developed and identifiable sound.
  2. Wall of Sound
    68
    Well-constructed but largely uninspiring... Its lyrics offer little that's dynamic or artful, so what are listeners really left with? Decent melodies, to be sure, and nicely produced tracks... But deep down, the music and lyrics rarely match up, and few songs establish a mood for long enough to hang your heart on.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    Fastball are, in general, a little wobbly on this CD, but their aim is true often enough to suggest that once they get the guest star syndrome out of their system, the hits could keep on coming.
  4. Spin
    60
    The Harsh Light of Day is being sold as a Great Album, which means ubersongcraft, which means the Beatles, and keep that pedigree coming. [Oct 2000, p.173]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Rolling Stone
    60
    The only significant change from their breakthrough effort, 1998's All the Pain Money Can Buy, is more expensive, expansive-sounding production and an increasingly overt Beatles influence in both the songs and sonics.
  6. CDNow
    60
    With its brand of easily accessible pop rock, the Austin, Texas-based trio presents an extremely likable musical front that's based more upon influence than innovation.
  7. Checkout.com
    50
    Does the world really need another mediocre pop-rock album rife with trite lyrics, aimless melodies and bloated production?
    All this publication's reviews

See all 11 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. JeffH
    Nov 11, 2003
    10
    I think this album as a whole in better than All the Pain Money Can Buy. Funny how it fades away is one of the best songs I've heard. I think this album as a whole in better than All the Pain Money Can Buy. Funny how it fades away is one of the best songs I've heard. Whatever gets you one is a very nice finish to this seemless album. … Collapse
  2. JeffH
    Nov 11, 2003
    10
    I think this album as a whole in better than All the Pain Money Can Buy. Funny how it fades away is one of the best songs I've heard. I think this album as a whole in better than All the Pain Money Can Buy. Funny how it fades away is one of the best songs I've heard. Whatever gets you one is a very nice finish to this seemless album. … Expand
  4. JeffH
    Nov 11, 2003
    10
    I think this album as a whole in better than All the Pain Money Can Buy. Funny how it fades away is one of the best songs I've heard. I think this album as a whole in better than All the Pain Money Can Buy. Funny how it fades away is one of the best songs I've heard. Whatever gets you one is a very nice finish to this seemless album. … Expand
  5. ColleenJ.
    Jun 22, 2003
    9
    This is one of those albums that doesn't catch you immediately, like All The Pain Money Can Buy did. Instead, it requires the listener This is one of those albums that doesn't catch you immediately, like All The Pain Money Can Buy did. Instead, it requires the listener to go through the CD a few times, and by that time, one could be so hooked on it that they cannot stop listening to it for long periods of time. All in all, I find this to be a very good album, and I fully recommend listening to their previous two albums, as well as their new live record "Live at Jupiter Records."… Expand

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Most Discussed Album of 2000
73
#73 Most Shared Album of 2000

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