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Back To Me
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Back To Me Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: The Canadian singer-songwriter's sophomore release again blends country and rock sounds, and includes a guest appearance by Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers).

Top Track

Bittersweet
Every now and then I still get a flashback Of the time I spent Thinking you could be that one Should I have just kept your love Yes I understand We... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    100
    Offers up the same taut honky-tonk, high-lonesome balladry and electric-rock snarls as Failer. But the production is more direct, and her songs are more rueful. [4 Mar 2005, p.71]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Billboard
    80
    A gorgeous collection that is equal parts country and rock, joy and (more often than not) pain.
  3. The A.V. Club
    80
    Edwards has a suggestively melancholy voice, a gift for well-turned phrases, and an uncanny knack for making uptempo tracks like "In State" sound as intimate and raw as her ballads.
  4. ShakingThrough.net
    70
    Back to Me is a solid successor to Failer, though at some point Edwards is going to have to toss aside the sour-relationship crutch if she truly wants to distinguish herself from the rest of the country-rock crowd.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    63
    Too many of the songs feel more obvious and slight than bold and revealing -- as if Edwards' true muse is really Sheryl Crow. [6 Mar 2005]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Rolling Stone
    60
    The roots-rock downers are blander than her admirers would hope.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    40
    Marred by Edwards' rather unremarkable voice.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Brian
    Jan 20, 2007
    10
    I very much enjoyed the music on this album - "Back to Me" gets me going!
  2. RussellR
    Mar 8, 2005
    9
    Pungent rockers and sad-pretty ballads make this memorable collection even better than her debut.
  4. DeanS.
    Jul 1, 2005
    9
    Comparing Kathleen Edwards to Sheryl Crow is like calling Gram Parsons a poor man's Don Henley. I think the fact that the critic's Comparing Kathleen Edwards to Sheryl Crow is like calling Gram Parsons a poor man's Don Henley. I think the fact that the critic's scores range from 100 points all the way down to 40 is very telling -- this stuff resonates with some people like a steel guitar at a sound check, others apparently pan it because it doesn't have a good beat and they can't dance to it. I think a lot of the finer points of this great album are simply going over the heads of shallow listeners. From the stellar opening duo of "In State" and the title track, this disc quite simply blows its excellent predecessor out of the water. It's really less of an album than it is a compelling collection of short stories. Edwards is fast becoming the Neil Young of the new century.… Expand
  5. LawrenceP
    Mar 7, 2005
    8
    I think her first LP is better, though this has some very good songs and some that sound like the new sheryl crow record (this is not a good thing.)
  6. SamD
    Mar 20, 2006
    8
    good, but there's something missing... it reminds me too much of fiona apple's "tidal", which seems great at first, but wans very good, but there's something missing... it reminds me too much of fiona apple's "tidal", which seems great at first, but wans very suddenly for some unknown reason.… Expand
  7. ChadS
    Feb 3, 2006
    8
    "In State" is the best battered woman narrative set to music that I've ever heard. You buy the cd and turn the page on the booklet and "In State" is the best battered woman narrative set to music that I've ever heard. You buy the cd and turn the page on the booklet and you think, "Oh, the prom queen writes songs, too." Edwards is very beautiful. The rest of "Back to Me" is solid, but nothing that's transcending like the opening track, which is right up there with the best of Aimee Mann and Dar Williams.… Expand
  8. RonC
    Mar 13, 2005
    7
    Some interesting songs, but it's not "Failer".