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To The Races - Eric Bachmann
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
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  1. Filter
    92
    You want this album. [#21, p.98]
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  2. The A.V. Club
    91
    Most of To The Races is arresting and alive, filled with little moments--a snaky violin, a warm harmonica, a lilting melody--that serve as reminders of how important the concept of "performance" can be.
  3. Alternative Press
    80
    The sound is closer to the Boss' Nebraska--as Will Oldham would have done it--haunting, reflective and drowning in sorrow. [Oct 2006, p.200]
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  4. Prefix Magazine
    80
    As with Icky Mettle and then with Crooked Fingers, Bachmann once again has provided a taut and startling proper debut; his writing feels completely reenergized.
  5. Slant Magazine
    80
    Finally Bachmann's songs sound familiar and not derivative.
  6. NOW Magazine
    80
    With folky guitar picking, lush harmonies and sophisticated melodies, this album is a must-have for all of Bachmann's fans.
  7. All Music Guide
    70
    Fans of Bachmann's gruff Neil Diamond-meets-Steve Earle vocals and lonesome and literate subject matter will find everything they love about the Carolina native on display, while those who prefer his vocal affectations surrounded by the din of a full band should stick with his group efforts.
  8. Pitchfork
    69
    In spite of its flaws, To the Races charms with its somber atmosphere.
  9. Paste Magazine
    60
    Gone is the orchestral saturation that sometimes bogged down Crooked Fingers, replaced by gnomic acoustic folk that's stark to the point of nudity. [Oct 2006, p.84]
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  10. PopMatters
    60
    The main problem is that, after about seven tracks of this stuff, it grows a bit repetitive.
  11. Spin
    50
    It's easy to miss the bright counterweight that has kept his old-soul melancholy afloat in the past. [Sep 2006, p.100]
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  12. Stylus Magazine
    42
    To the Races isn't that bad. Bachmann's just so much better.
  13. Under The Radar
    40
    The album simply lacks the spark of his best work. [#15]
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  14. Uncut
    40
    Bachmann's gruff uniformity is, in the end, difficult to love. [Dec 2006, p.101]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. JeremyF
    5
    OK. While "Man O' War" is on my top 10 songs of 2006, this album as a whole is nothing spectacular. Some very good guitar playing throughout, and soft, easy-listening vocals are enchanting, but the songs blur into a plodding-along feel, and it can't keep my pinned for longer than two or three songs. Despite the one breathtakingly magnificent number, this album fails to capture me the way intimate acoustic records should.… Full Review »
  2. DanielL
    10
    A kind of songwriting that just plain doesn't exist anymore. Half 1930's range balladeer, half somber meditation. The bare presentation is a reflection of the album's honesty, and the density of the cello, violin, and backing vocals are like an ocean, upon which you can float, feeling emotionally empowered just by listening. Truly wonderful and unique.… Full Review »
  3. StevenG
    9
    This really is a powerful album.
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