The Haunted Man - Bat for Lashes
The Haunted Man Image
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 60 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Natasha Khan worked with such artists as Beck, Dan Carey, Rob Ellis, David Kosten, TV on the Radio's David Sitek, and Portishead's Adrian Utley for her third studio release.
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Genre(s): Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Beats Per Minute (formerly One Thirty BPM)
    Oct 22, 2012
    87
    The songs are expensive in their depth of emotion but comforting in their intimacy and alluring appeal.
  2. Magnet
    Dec 4, 2012
    80
    At it's best, the record finds her swapping the heavy-handed concepts that've largely driven her work to date for the irrefutable impact of raw lyricism. [No. 93, p.56]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. No Ripcord
    Dec 31, 2012
    80
    The Haunted Man is so effortlessly emotive that it seems to demand that we demand even more from it. Or at least, it would, if it weren't so easy to get lost in the many layers of these melodies and start thinking about the ghosts that Bat For Lashes is trying to chase away.
  4. Paste Magazine
    Oct 23, 2012
    60
    On The Haunted Man, Khan continues to pursue a similar approach to combining ambition and concision, but, unfortunately, the result is a disappointingly tepid album.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. federicobenny
    10
    A wonderful album which introduces new sounds in Bat For Lashes' music. In this record Khan leaves behind tribal-dark atmospheres to embrace minimal electronic (except for "Horses of The Sun", a track that reminds of "Glass" from her previous album "Two Suns"). If you've loved Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know", you can't not listen to "All Your Gold" and of you like Tori Amos you must listen to "Laura". Listen to it and you will not be able to stop 'til it's finished!… Expand
  2. jjnoahjames
    7
    I love Bat for Lashes. I have been following since the beginning. But it seems that producers or someone up there on "top" wants Bat to sound like Tori Amos. Bad move. Yuck. The last album was o.k. but really was nothing amazing. My wife loves "what's a girl to do" but I had trouble getting her to listen to this album. I was searching and hoping for more on "The Haunted Man".

    Bat was launched out to the scene with hit single, "What's a girl to do?'. That's why I liked here.The "Fur and Gold" album was great (so was the acoustic version).

    Anyway even though I like the video and song "all your gold" the rest of the album was really watery and disappointing, and "Tori Amosy". She sounds better as a "simplistic and rhythmic gypsy" rather than some "Enyaesk, watery, fairy tale" dream.

    There are still some good songs on this album but give us more "what's a girl to do?" (or at least a dubstep or trance remix album). Thanks.    … Expand
  3. LetzTalkMoveez
    7
    Tremendously catchy, synthetic grooves, mucky lyrics, and a few other weak spots.
  4. Vampire25
    7
    The Haunted Man is definitely one of the more arty/pop indie records I've heard so far this year. The music is great. The lyrics are really relatable, the vocals are smooth on the ears, productions really good, and the instrumentations is so damn catchy, and dreamy. All In All, Bat For Lashes are a one of a kind band that doesn't stray away from a sound that's all their own. It's a great record. B… Expand

See all 5 User Reviews

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