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Beyond the End Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: The eighth full-length release for the British singer-songwriter is an instrumental album.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Uncut
    Nov 20, 2018
    80
    "Wolves Change Rivers" betrays his love for Erik Satie, but "For My Mother" [is] reassuring affection is unquestionably his own. [Jan 2019, p.21]
  2. Nov 20, 2018
    63
    Beyond The End won’t change that perception, not even remotely, but it does serve as an ideal example of Harcourt’s fearless embrace of whatever creative concepts inevitably come his way.
  3. Q Magazine
    Nov 20, 2018
    60
    It's an album that shows the breadth of Harcourt's talent, certainly, but you can't help but miss the warm burr of his voice. [Jan 2019, p.109]
  4. Nov 27, 2018
    60
    This feels like something that Harcourt did for his own satisfaction, and as a little treat for his fans. There’s nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t leave a lot for the rest of us to dig into.
  5. Mojo
    Nov 20, 2018
    60
    Gently atmospheric rather than a disrupter of mood. [Jan 2019, p.86]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Nov 25, 2018
    10
    This album's so amazing, it's in my top 5 albums of this 2018, I really enjoyed it, my favourite track is "Empress of the Lake"
  2. Dec 10, 2018
    10
    Funny- I'd give anything these days to see an honest review of an album. Art criticism has turned into activism, without even seriouslyFunny- I'd give anything these days to see an honest review of an album. Art criticism has turned into activism, without even seriously validating the claims it makes on artistic expressions in the first place. The fact that this site, and the young journalists, four quoted here, can dismiss this and then worship the 1975 and Kendrick Lamar is ridiculous. Everything on this site and in the major publications has to meet intersectional demands nowadays, or at least fit that crowd, or probably face the guillotine. Ed Harcourt is one of the best songwriters around now, and this is obviously an album with profound depth- something hipsters and ideologues avoid unless someone like Nick Cave comes along to put them in their place. Which will continue to happen, because people can distinguish what is sublime from what is didactic. Expand