Baby
by White Hinterland
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. Uncut
    Apr 2, 2014
    80
    The beautiful, feathery songwriting featured on Boson-based Casy Dienel's previous album as White Hinterland has had a steroidal pumping. [May 2014, p.83]
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  2. AllMusic
    Apr 1, 2014
    80
    Though worlds away from White Hinterland's soft-hearted chamber pop beginnings or more recent dreaminess, the dire overall feeling of Baby represents vivid, undeniable growth for the project.
  3. musicOMH.com
    Apr 1, 2014
    80
    Dienel and co have surpassed any of their previous efforts, including the incredible debut Phylactery Factory, and the most recent beauty Kairos.
  5. The 405
    Apr 4, 2014
    75
    At its best White Hinterland can certainly hold its ground alongside these artists, but it's a much tougher and more crowded scene than where she came from.
  6. Pitchfork
    Apr 4, 2014
    72
    Even though it’s filled with stark admissions, Baby is ultimately an unflinchingly hopeful record that sees an already talented artist finding finding new ways to grow.
  7. The Line of Best Fit
    Apr 1, 2014
    70
    It won’t be the year’s slickest or tightest alt-pop effort, but it’s plenty adventurous--for the most part, endearingly so.
  8. Boston Globe
    Apr 1, 2014
    70
    Scituate native Casey Dienel’s third album under the White Hinterland moniker seems to construct itself as it goes, incrementally expanding from the bits and scraps of piano and multi-layered unaccompanied vocals of opener “Wait Until Dark” and culminating in the rollicking, if skewed, roll of penultimate track “Sickle No Sword.”
  9. Rolling Stone
    Apr 1, 2014
    70
    Dienel's vocal acrobatics stay riveting--the musical equivalent of pulling a floor lamp out of a handbag.
  10. New Musical Express (NME)
    Apr 1, 2014
    70
    She sounds like she’s having a bathroom hairbrush-singing party to which we’re all invited. These are sweet sweet fantasies, baby.
  11. Under The Radar
    Apr 9, 2014
    65
    Baby bares it all, fully absorbing R&B, gospel, and pop influences, taking a further step into the arena of the melisma-inflected popstress.
  12. PopMatters
    Jun 26, 2014
    60
    Hinterland’s whole existence seems to be balancing conflicting interests: to be abstract/direct, about feelings/ideas, of genre/not tied to any genre. You can hear that conflict in their sound. It is their sound.
  13. NOW Magazine
    Apr 3, 2014
    60
    The emphasis on texture and style can obscure Dienel’s storytelling, however: it all sounds so gorgeous, you sometimes forget to listen to what she’s actually trying to say.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    8
    White Hinterland's third album is the most instrumentally complex thing I've heard this project deliver thus far. Not only that but mastermindWhite Hinterland's third album is the most instrumentally complex thing I've heard this project deliver thus far. Not only that but mastermind Casey Dienel's voice is sounding better than ever between all of these power piano ballads and dense, soulful art pop tunes.… Full Review »
  2. jotaeseche
    Jun 1, 2016
    8
    The balance between disjointed and frenetic sounds and vocals and the sense of detailed harmony in this album is admiring and worth a try.The balance between disjointed and frenetic sounds and vocals and the sense of detailed harmony in this album is admiring and worth a try. Overall, Baby is a pretty interesting world to get in and get lost in.… Full Review »
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