The Spirit Of Apollo
by N.A.S.A.
  • Record Label: Anti
  • Release Date: Feb 17, 2009
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. Billboard
    60
    That overstuffed guest list doesn't necessarily work to the exclusive benefit of The Spirit of Apollo, as sometimes the clutter makes it hard to hear precisely what kind of music Zegon and Spiegel are trying to make here.
  2. The Guardian
    60
    The album is occasionally brought to earth by mediocre hip-hop, suggesting the project would have been better with a smaller, more focused cast.
  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    On Apollo, L.A. scenemakers Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon pull in a wild roster of stars for what feels like a playful unity jam.
  5. PopMatters
    60
    It’s a party record with random hints of sci-fi. The challenges, though, of producing a truly inventive, kinetic collaboration with so many big names must have been massive--the expression “like a kid in a candy store” comes to mind--and N.A.S.A. shows no particular brilliance on this outing.
  6. Mojo
    60
    The results are as scattershot as the guest list. [Mar 2009, p.106]
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  7. Q Magazine
    60
    It's by nature a patchwork, but boasts more hits than misses. [Mar 2009, p.98]
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  8. Prefix Magazine
    55
    The Spirit of Apollo is what happens when you pack 40 guest appearances onto a single album and expect their charisma alone to make something intriguing. It’s a huge gamble, and one The Spirit of Apollo lost.
  9. Blender
    50
    These ringers are lively, and complement one another surprisingly well. So why is the record so underwhelming? That’d be the men at the helm.
  10. Boston Globe
    50
    Girl Talk succeeded by deconstructing pop hits; we heard every prerecorded sample in a new way. N.A.S.A., on the other hand, just slaps everything up there, and expects it to stick. It doesn't.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 10 out of 20
  1. BIGMAN22
    Apr 14, 2016
    1
    a little overrun by too many guest appearances. most of the featured guests shouldnt be featured on the same song with each other. in additiona little overrun by too many guest appearances. most of the featured guests shouldnt be featured on the same song with each other. in addition many of them dont seem to really bring much to the track their on. the ones we know little about dont blend well together either. hard to blend many styles into one hoping the result comes out good.… Full Review »
  2. LeeH
    Mar 14, 2009
    8
    If you are not an indie rock fan that digs hip hop, pass on this one. Not for everyone but I really dig it. Good energy.
  3. GavinB
    Mar 3, 2009
    10
    A Massive album!
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