NOW Magazine's Scores

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For 2,812 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 43% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 55% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 6.9 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 The Life Of Pablo
Lowest review score: 20 Testify
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,287 out of 2812
  2. Mixed: 1,452 out of 2812
  3. Negative: 73 out of 2812
2812 music reviews
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    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Keeper
    Despite the evident talent of his backup band – vocalists Patti Griffin and Jill Sobule, guitarist Smokey Hormel, bassist Don Was and Giant Sand's Howe Gelb on piano – it takes a while to get into, in part because the arrangements are often so busy that they verge on chaotic.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Crush Songs
    It’s refreshing to hear O sing so delicately--a contrast to the over-the-top persona of her slick main gig--we wish she’d let the heartbreak linger a few moments longer.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Animal Nature
    A solid offering that could have been improved by swapping some of the remixes for the originals.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Strength In Numbers
    Calla deal in that dark romantic narcissism guys like Nick Cave and Tom Waits are known to wallow in on record after record.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Sumie
    At her best, Sumie evokes the poeticism of Joni paired with the headiness of Mazzy Star. But given the songs’ lack of variation in tone and tempo, an EP might have offered a more focused introduction.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Flower Lane
    New wave, soul and house beats make this his most genre-bending album yet.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Fire Songs
    Without shattering any paradigms, they’ve assembled a very listenable collection of songs that’d be a welcome addition to a Starbucks summer playlist.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Aureate Gloom
    Too bad clunky lyrics hold things back at times.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Portamento
    As the title suggests, the band is evolving gradually rather than in dramatic swells.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Transparent Things
    There are worse artists to jack than David Byrne and company, but after all the breathless hype, you'd expect something a little more innovative.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Hands All Over
    It's an accomplished record for singer Adam Levine and his faceless group, even if the whole affair sometimes sounds clinical in its approach.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Livin' on a High Note
    The production is restrained, leaving plenty of space for Staples's rich vocals, although some songs feel a bit too clean and reserved. It's all very pleasant but lacks the fire and passion we want from her.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Warpaint
    At times, this sense of vulnerability in the music can grow stagnant and forgettable, but it’s usually pleasurable in the moment.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Highlights
    There's nothing especially memorable on offer, and a lyrical artlessness becomes obvious as the album continues.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Because Of The Times
    Kings of Leon often seem torn between their stadium rawk impulses and their hip underground aspirations.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Band of Joy
    It's nice that he's managed to keep things tasteful, but instead of quiet intensity, it comes across more as overly cautious and timid – not exactly what he was aiming for.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Whatever, Whenever
    When the punk, doo-wop, early R&B and psych influences come together, the high points are strong enough that you can easily forgive the lack of focus.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Bloodless Coup
    This pretty solid record shouldn't disappoint existing fans. However, it's more pleasant than mind-blowing, and you notice the pretty sounds more than the songs themselves.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Indicud
    The best rhymes come courtesy of Kendrick Lamar on Solo Dolo, Pt. II, and the worst are from Too Short on the album’s weakest link, Girls.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Hypercaffium Spazzinate
    No matter how sobering Hypercaffium Spazzinate gets, Descendents keep things light by playing these wistful, grown-ass songs like teenagers.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Love You To Death
    When they stop aiming for catchiness and instead get real about relationships, LYTD sparkles.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    For Your Entertainment
    Musically it’s a gloriously tacky mix of dance pop and hair metal, and we mean that in the best way possible....The only problem is that he doesn’t go far enough, likely the result of the label trying to tone down his flamboyance.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Broken Bells
    Burton deserves some of the blame for the album's shortcomings as well, even if his creative engineering is the high point. He gives us some gorgeously layered textures and swirling atmospherics, but then backs those up with tepid and forgettable beats.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    E-MO-TION
    For all its unexpected sounds and catchy choruses, Emotion falters in its lyrical blandness.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Again into Eyes
    It might be too overwrought for many, but for those of us who like drama, this is a fine introduction.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Ouroboros
    Only about half of the songs captivate; the others could be used as sleep aids. This is frustrating, because the strong songs are fantastic. The lesser ones suffer from too much washed-out dreaminess.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Shadow of the Sun
    It's so soft-focus as to rarely assert itself or command attention, but fuzz-pop Free The Skull brings to mind Pink Mountaintops, boogie rocker Slow Down Low has a blissful pulse, and Thieves gets terrific mileage out of a hypnotically repetitive riff.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    MTMTMK
    On MTMTMK, the duo moves through a range of global sounds, from Congolese kwassa kwassa to reggaeton to electro house.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Prisoner
    Though there’s some absolutely gorgeous production that recalls the lush sound and synthscapes of 80s rock, the songwriting is weighed down by clichés.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    My December
    Moving further away from sugar-coated post-Idol fare, Clarkson steps up with more rockers and a few ballads that, while not all destined to be radio hits, are all convincing and emotionally bare.
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