- Critic score
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- By date
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We'll Never Turn Back is the kind of album we need at the moment, one that doesn't flinch from the tradition but doesn't present it as a museum piece either.
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[It] seems like the album the 66-year-old singer was born to make
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Staples' voice outshines all: rich, weathered, and full of fire, sometimes resolving in a cracked tone or a dark, knowing chuckle, her eyes still on the prize.
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While the overall arc is inspirational, the album takes an unflinchingly dark view of the civil rights struggle.
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MojoAn album that can only add to her legend. [May 2007, p.112]
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Cooder’s playing is sometime perfectly suited for the project, but other times seems horribly out of step with Mavis’ intention.
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Her great success is making these protest songs personal, and she does it in a most profoundly moving way.
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Because this album’s music is so strong, ironically, it risks being tuned out.
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Although rooted in history, this album’s themes and passion are timeless.
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Staples is magnificent.
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UncutA successful fusion of tradition and modernism.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 14 out of 15
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Mixed: 0 out of 15
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Negative: 1 out of 15
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StefB.May 26, 2007
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KenSMay 9, 2007One of the best of the year so far. Cooder's production and playing are perfect, as usual.
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HiNumberMay 8, 2007Powerful.