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American Wrestlers Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Artist(s): Gary McClure
  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the solo project of ex-Working for a Nuclear Free City member Gary McClure was recorded in his St Louis home studio with a Tascam eight-track cassette deck.
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Top Track

Kelly
In the land of plenty Enough means more the earth In a speechless business With the word above Big blind blue lines Brought my fist to the spine To... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Apr 29, 2015
    80
    Gary McClure knows how to write a strong melody and a great hook, and he's no slouch on guitar; those are gifts that would serve him well under any circumstances, but on American Wrestlers he's shown that he can make a great record with any old junk at his disposal, and quite simply, that's just what he's done here
  2. Q Magazine
    Apr 29, 2015
    80
    A record to get lost in. [Jun 2015, p.99]
  3. May 7, 2015
    80
    You can’t help but feel that given better production this could well have been the album of the year that some over-enthusiastic sorts claim. One of the surprises of the year, however? Definitely.
  4. Apr 29, 2015
    70
    Ultimately, the most appealing thing about American Wrestlers is its lack of obvious guile or pretension.
  5. Apr 29, 2015
    69
    The highlights of American Wrestlers reveal themselves immediately, but elsewhere on the record McClure demonstrates a curious ability to bury concise hooks in otherwise-doughy or unfinished songs.
  6. Apr 29, 2015
    60
    Although there’s a vogue for the vintage production techniques and comfortable imperfect noisiness that pervades the record, it doesn’t always do American Wrestlers justice.
  7. May 4, 2015
    60
    While the low-fi mix distracts and some tracks run long, you can hear the bona fides of a skilled singer-songwriter. McClure's cool charm makes these homespun songs feel like long-lost guitar-pop gems, newly discovered and barely dusted off.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of
  2. Mixed: 0 out of
  3. Negative: 0 out of