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Chaos and the Calm
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Chaos and the Calm Image
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the British singer-songwriter who won the 2015 Brits Critics' Choice award was produced by Jacquire King.
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Top Track

Let It Go
From walking home and talking loads To seeing shows in evening clothes with you From nervous touch and getting drunk To staying up and waking up with... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Clash Music
    Mar 24, 2015
    70
    This is an album of genuine intent, full of poignant reflections on romance, hope, fear, the past, the present, and the future. It’s got heart. And that’s enough for starters.
  2. AllMusic
    Mar 24, 2015
    70
    Often compared to Ed Sheeran and Ben Howard, Chaos and the Calm shows James Bay has the style and the ability to stand on his own, and it's the work of a new performer with an impressive potential.
  3. Q Magazine
    Apr 1, 2015
    60
    It's not to say he's workmanlike, but he does the job. [May 2015, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. PopMatters
    Apr 23, 2015
    60
    Bay is unable to ever quite match the sheer fire of opening stretch of the album, which is a bit of a bummer. And revisiting that whole matter of treading new ground, well it just doesn’t happen. Still, the pieces are just too good to resist--Bay has plenty to offer.
  5. musicOMH.com
    Mar 24, 2015
    50
    Ultimately, Chaos And The Calm is a solid, if unspectacular, first effort from Bay.
  6. The Observer (UK)
    Mar 24, 2015
    40
    His debut is anodyne if ruthlessly efficient. A touch more chaos would not have gone amiss.
  7. The Telegraph (UK)
    Mar 24, 2015
    40
    Making music by numbers shouldn’t be this tiring.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Sani
    Jan 4, 2016
    8
    For a debut album, this is pretty solid. I sense uncertainty as the range of types of songs varies heavily, however, this just demonstrates aFor a debut album, this is pretty solid. I sense uncertainty as the range of types of songs varies heavily, however, this just demonstrates a new artist trying to find his place in the grander scheme of things. Can't wait for the next album!… Expand
  2. LilScience
    Jan 4, 2022
    8
    James Bay sempre foi um artista que nunca me interessei muito, mas de um tempos para cá comecei a ouvir mais músicas, digamos que ele é umJames Bay sempre foi um artista que nunca me interessei muito, mas de um tempos para cá comecei a ouvir mais músicas, digamos que ele é um rockeiro meio alternativo, porém muito talentoso, esse álbum é muito bem produzido, e bem coeso, minhas faixas favoritas são: 'Let It Go', 'Hold Back The River', 'Scars' e 'Collide'.… Expand
  4. HoldOn
    Mar 24, 2015
    7
    This is a good album, but it's so generic ... The first EPs James were good, super warm, but use the same tracks become very simple and commonThis is a good album, but it's so generic ... The first EPs James were good, super warm, but use the same tracks become very simple and common album. Just another folk album, but still has good lyrics.… Expand
  5. Clubsocial
    May 4, 2015
    5
    lovelove thisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss… Expand
  6. quotes
    Mar 27, 2015
    5
    I was expecting for more than this album shows. It's just a soup of a lot of things, there is not something that characterises this, but theI was expecting for more than this album shows. It's just a soup of a lot of things, there is not something that characterises this, but the lyrics are good. I think James Bay is more a country singer than a folk singer, his voice reminds me of country singers, perhaps it can work. I like so much of 'Move Together' and 'Craving', they are my favourite songs on 'Chaos and the Calm', although I'm disappointed with it.… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2015

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