Young Man In America - Anaïs Mitchell
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Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

  • Summary: The singer-songwriter scales back from her 20-track 2010 album Hadestown with 11 folk tunes on her fifth album.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Feb 22, 2012
    100
    With Young Man In America, Anaïs Mitchell has created her second consecutive masterpiece.
  2. 80
    Mitchell put a permanent stamp of approval on her already sparkling reputation with the gorgeous and striving Young Man In America.
  3. Mar 19, 2012
    80
    Young Man in America is born from sorrow, suffering, shattered dreams and incendiary youth "waiting on oblivion", yet it's one of the most life-affirming musical journeys you'll have all year.
  4. 80
    You have to be in the mood for Young Man In America but, when you are, you'll be rewarded by an absorbing album.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. 10
    It's really rare to find an individual with such a unique voice coupled with great lyrical abilities. Young Man In America is definitely worth a listen. Expand
  2. While Hadestown was a masterfully executed epic folk-opera, with Young Man in America, Anais Mitchell returns to a simpler, yet beautiful form of story telling. Because it is not so concept oriented, each song is more accessible in its own right, while still cohering beautifully into an album worthy of listening to from start to finish. I think this is the perfect album to win over first-time listeners. Recommended Tracks: "Wilderland," "Young Man in America," "Venus," "Tailor" Expand
  3. It's expansive Americana/folk. It sounds great, with deep and spacious arrangements. The melodies are accessible and some are quite catchy, but off-center enough not to be boringly predictable. As far as the lyrics... well, you probably won't feel deeply challenged by them, but if you're anything like me they'll manage to lodge themselves in your heart pretty quickly. Mitchell has a way of unfurling the story of a song in perfect synchrony with her song structures; 'Dyin' Day' is reminiscent of "The Wall" from her Hadestown album, in that it slowly builds a powerful lyrical idea using repetitive but evolving call-and response verses. That song is a highlight. Others include the title track, whose restless, hungry hero evokes immediate sympathy, and "Coming Down", a quiet and wistfully sad little tune.

    I will say that beyond those songs, none of the others have really grabbed me in the two days I've had to listen to it, but that might be because I have tracks 2-4 more or less on repeat. In the end I suppose I have to recommend Hadestown over this. But the three songs I mentioned above are really great, and absolutely worth the sticker price.
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  4. If perhaps one thing, it is well disguised -- a voice that will challenge your patience, and some overtly simplistic lyrics (and piano playing that I can only think of as â Expand

See all 8 User Reviews