Boarding House Reach
by Jack White
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Mar 23, 2018
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. No Ripcord
    Apr 18, 2018
    60
    Boarding House Reach isn’t the easiest of listens, and at times sounds like an over-excited White has just pressed 'record' and let his absurdity run amok. However, its strong moments just about outnumber the less appealing ones, and White’s own creative juices are still being harvested in abundance.
  2. Record Collector
    Mar 29, 2018
    60
    Boarding House is schizophrenic in the extreme. Despite being spawned in said room, later work has over-egged the pudding. While certain sections of songs work, they’re quickly thrown back into a maelstrom of hip-hop drums, Oh Sees squawks, fine gospel vocals from The McCrary Sisters and vintage synths.
  3. NOW Magazine
    Mar 23, 2018
    60
    White’s yelps and screams, reverb, synth and jittery guitar riffs could be more pleasant or cohesive, but that’s not White’s style, especially not on this record. Piling it all on seems to be the point he’s trying to make--this sense of being overwhelmed, constantly, at the hands of technology.
  5. Spin
    Mar 23, 2018
    60
    The results don’t resemble the King’s hits nearly as much as Prince’s demos.
  6. The Independent (UK)
    Mar 22, 2018
    60
    Overall, it’s an entertaining, multifaceted set, albeit weakened by a tendency to pursue slim ideas and dead-end notions.
  7. The Guardian
    Mar 22, 2018
    60
    Boarding House Reach resembles less a coherent album than a miscellany of ideas--or a collection of B-sides, with all the good and bad that entails.
  8. Uncut
    Mar 19, 2018
    60
    A sometimes mystifying but often inspired work. [May 2018, p.22]
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  9. Mojo
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    This is an album restless in its search for the new, the sound of White's reinvention in progress, scorching the Earth in anticipation of what might follow. If it misfires on occasion, it's certainly never dull. And if it never quite reaches its destination, it's still quite a ride. [Apr 2018, p.84]
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  10. Slant Magazine
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    A postmodern assault of freaked-out sonic ataxia, it's messy, wildly uneven, and at times even close to unlistenable, but its sheer audacity makes it utterly intriguing.
  11. Pretty Much Amazing
    Mar 23, 2018
    58
    Jack White missed, but in the best possible way. As weak as this record is, its extremely entertaining.
  12. Pitchfork
    Mar 23, 2018
    47
    Boarding House Reach is a long, bewildering slog studded with these moments, which seem to be directly antagonizing you.
  13. Under The Radar
    Mar 22, 2018
    45
    Despite all the bluster, there's not a lot actually happening on this album. Its songs are collages of ideas that sound great in 10-second chunks but refuse to settle, shifting from fiery riffs to spoken word passages to jazz piano detours. At first, this restlessness has a mad-scientist charm to it but it quickly becomes tiresome.

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Most Discussed Album of 2018
88
#88 Most Shared Album of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 129 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 129
  3. Negative: 14 out of 129
  1. DavidCall360
    Mar 23, 2018
    10
    Pure creativity. This album is all over the place, if you like your music simple you'll probably hate this album. I personally think that itPure creativity. This album is all over the place, if you like your music simple you'll probably hate this album. I personally think that it is incredible. At least give it a chance. Also it may be my favorite solo Jack White album.… Full Review »
  2. GJS
    Mar 26, 2018
    4
    I have loved Jack White for years, no matter what band he was with or solo. But this album is such a shambles from start to finish with songsI have loved Jack White for years, no matter what band he was with or solo. But this album is such a shambles from start to finish with songs not going anywhere and a lot of ideas that do not work. It's a mess of an album. The teaser video they did for this album where they played snippets from the songs but the actual songs do not build on these. Either a song will go nowhere on this album or it will go to too many places at once making it really hard to listen to & enjoy. I still have hope for him for another great album but this & the last Dead Weather isn't looking likely that he'll release better songs anytime soon.… Full Review »
  3. rudster1138
    Mar 23, 2018
    5
    Wow, this was a real dissapointment for me. The traditional songs are really good, you know, the ones where he actually sings... Bus so muchWow, this was a real dissapointment for me. The traditional songs are really good, you know, the ones where he actually sings... Bus so much of it is like a poetry recital set to music. Sure the production is great and the sounds are usually interesting, but I was left with a bunch of songs that I really can't see myself coming back to .… Full Review »
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