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Not everything dazzles, but it’s truly shocking what does.
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She sounds more relevant on these songs than she has in years.
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Full of slow burning passion and emotion, Twelve is magnificent.
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Smith's rock poet muse is certainly alive on most cuts, her deep voice declaiming, yipping, soaring, and investing old lyrics with fresh dignity and rhythm.
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It's somewhat hit-or-miss. But when Smith hits, it isn't just a bull's-eye -- the arrow splits the apple and then brings down the bad guy hiding behind the tree.
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Remember that concept album Tori Amos did that was supposed to reclaim all those male-oriented anthems from their blowhard XY carriers? Smith paints over Amos’ tedious version and executes the idea so much better, without even bragging that she’s doing it.
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Smith shifts much of her focus subtly away from the instrumentation and toward a song's intention and lyrics, with often revelatory results.
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Captivating.
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A bluesy, psychedelic witches' brew that feels like one long, complex incantation to keep us safe, to make us see there is indeed some kinda way out of here.
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Q MagazineHer most purely enjoyable album since 1978's Easter. [May 2007, p.120]
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UncutSeveral of the songs seem performed out of affection rather than any sense of artistic adventure. [May 2007, p.90]
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BillboardSmith and her trusty band largely strip arrangements bare, lyrical and emotional content taking center stage. [28 Apr 2007]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 13 out of 14
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Mixed: 0 out of 14
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Negative: 1 out of 14
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RayPJul 29, 2007
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andymMay 2, 2007
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JohnPApr 23, 2007Beyond good, absolutely fascinating. Not just a covers record, but something so alive and wonderful it could be the best album of 2007.