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The Spirit Indestructible Image
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 106 Ratings

  • Summary: Furtado's first album after a six-year absence, The Spirit Indestructible was produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and features a cameo appearance by Nas.
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Top Track

Waiting for the Night
Baby I know you're outside, In here it's warm and dry, Got feelings that I've got to try expressing Like a language that I share with you Let's talk... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Sep 18, 2012
    88
    Ever confident of her allure both as a woman and an artist, Furtado on The Spirit Indestructible proves nearly untouchable.
  2. Sep 17, 2012
    70
    Yet for all its contradictions and clumsiness, it's hard not to admire The Spirit Indestructible, for it is that rare thing: a major-label album that bears the unmistakably messy, human stamp of an artist.
  3. Sep 17, 2012
    70
    Furtado isn't entirely successful; at times, the album is more impressive for what she intends to achieve than what she accomplishes. And yet for all its contradictions and clumsiness, it's hard not to admire The Spirit Indestructible, for it is that rare thing: a major-label album that bears the unmistakably messy, human stamp of an artist.
  4. Sep 17, 2012
    60
    There's a fair bit of "positivity" gloop, such as Believers (Arab Spring), but not enough to ruin a decent album.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Sep 17, 2012
    42
    A wasteland of electro-funk also-rans and half-baked nods to hip-hop. [14/21 Sep 2012, p.141]
  6. Sep 18, 2012
    40
    Main producer Rodney Jerkins keeps the beats tight and hooks polished, but Furtado's flaming identity crisis makes this cringe listening.
  7. Q Magazine
    Oct 23, 2012
    40
    Time for another rethink. [Nov 2012, p.96]

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Sep 20, 2012
    10
    Nelly didn't need the current trend - and worn - of the U.S., to create a good album. Sounds original, different and exotic, and without doubtNelly didn't need the current trend - and worn - of the U.S., to create a good album. Sounds original, different and exotic, and without doubt the best song of the album is "Believers (Arab Spring)". Expand
  2. Sep 22, 2019
    10
    I love this album, I think every song has a special meaning behind it, and I really relate to the title-track. But a deluxe edition wasn't needed.
  3. Sep 20, 2012
    10
    Nelly Furtado is always trendy and creative. She delivered a well-consistent album which can make you understand what is REAL music! UnlikeNelly Furtado is always trendy and creative. She delivered a well-consistent album which can make you understand what is REAL music! Unlike other pop divas such as Rihanna who can't write their own songs + with no musical talent. Expand
  4. Oct 10, 2012
    9
    This album has that "magical feeling". Though the production feels misguided and heavy-handed at times, overall it makes you longing to listen again.
  5. Sep 23, 2012
    9
    Not very commonly we see a mainstream artist like Nelly produce an album which talks about life, its problems and inconveniences (and alsoNot very commonly we see a mainstream artist like Nelly produce an album which talks about life, its problems and inconveniences (and also amusements) such as this. The Spirit Indestructible is a consistent and pleasurable album that finds its way to stand out in a crowd where the rest is pushing the audience (us, listeners) to a much simpler and un-reflective music. The singer can not only make the listener enjoy "good music" but also put him/her in a contemplative way throughout its tracks. In comparison to what Nelly has done over the years, the album is a "cleaner" sound, but yet with Loose's beats and Folklore and Mi Plan's cultural references. Impressive achievement. Expand
  6. Sep 24, 2012
    8
    This is a fantastic, original album. The work is obviously personal and written without the interference of 'producers' who wreck the majorityThis is a fantastic, original album. The work is obviously personal and written without the interference of 'producers' who wreck the majority of stuff out these days. A few misses on this album, purely from the experimentation but on the whole the beats are superb!! Recommend Waiting for the Night, Miracles, Believers. Expand
  7. Oct 19, 2012
    4
    Curioso o novo álbum da Nelly Furtado se chamar "indestrutível" quando na verdade é um álbum "frágil". DevoCurioso o novo álbum da Nelly Furtado se chamar "indestrutível" quando na verdade é um álbum "frágil". Devo admitir que fiquei um pouco triste com o resultado final de The Spirit Indestructible já que havia certa esperança após o lançamento do primeiro single Big Hoops (Bigger the Better).

    O grande problema do álbum é que ele tenta ser conceitual jogando uma pomposidade na construção das canções que no final das contas faz com que Nelly parece deslocada, chata e pouco pedante. O que deve ter acontecido é simples: ela achou que a parceria com o produtor Darkchild poderia render mais que apenas uma boa música e fez dele o principal condutor The Spirit Indestructible. Um erro grande já que até outros produtores parecem perdidos como o ótimo Salaam Remi. O álbum fica preso a essa tentativa de parecer mais do que é de verdade apesar de ter uma ótima produção de engenharia na elaboração de arranjos. Só que a maioria parece datada e arrastada demais. Claro, se houvesse composições mais fortes tudo poderia ajudar o clima, mas a falta de substância emocional deixa a letras rasas. Há várias tentativas de colocar algo a mais no sentido das composições, mas nada muito relevante aparece. Nelly não tem um desempenho vocal ruim, mas sua voz meio que se perde em tanta grandiosidade sem foco. O mais íncrivel é que o álbum começa ótima com as duas canções que o abrem: Spirit Indestructible (resenha a seguir) e o já falado Big Hoops (Bigger the Better). Só que depois qualidade cai e nãos e levanta mais. Só quando a canção Cry, bônus da versão alemã, surge é que temos algo realmente bom mesmo sendo quase um b-side do Ray of Light da Madonna. Para piorar a situação, The Spirit Indestructible está flopando de maneira gigantesca que dá muita dó da Nelly. Contudo, há uma coerencia nos lançamentos de álbuns em inglês dela: o primeiro foi sucesso, o segundo flop, o terceiro sucesso e agora flop. Quer dizer, podemos esperar um próximo álbuns seja um estrondo, mas só espero que seja também em qualidade.
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