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Crimson/Red
by
Crimson/Red Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the first new release of recently recorded songs in over 10 years for the British singer-songwriter Paddy McAloon.
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Top Track

The Best Jewel Thief in the World
Masked and dressed in black You scramble over rooftops Carrying a bag – bag marked swag You're the best jewel thief in the world Vigilance is... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Record Collector
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    Crimson/Red is self-referencing précis of his career to date, with the melodic elegance and lyrical insight we’ve come to expect but have been denied for so long.
  2. The Guardian
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    Playing every instrument and lavishly layering the sounds, he has produced a kind of truculent, Geordie Pet Sounds, while the lyrics are ablaze with mordant observations that rank with some of his youthful best.
  3. Uncut
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    It's a genius pop album by a genius pop singer-songwriter. [Nov 2013, p.70]
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  4. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    Lovely album from a true one-off.
  5. Q Magazine
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    Offering a clear connection with his melodically sophisticated, emotive songwriting of yore, it combines light an d shade while touching on such universal notions as the ineffable mystery of existence, how love is eternal and the waning of earthly powers. [Nov 2013, p.114]
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  6. Mojo
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    These are ingenious, affecting songs on a DIY recording budget. [Nov 2013, p.88]
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  7. The Independent (UK)
    Oct 14, 2013
    60
    It's tasteful but a touch bloodless.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. makuwka
    Nov 23, 2013
    9
    The exemplary, nay legendary, Prefab Sprout release their first album of new material for thirteen years. Crimson/Red’ has been written andThe exemplary, nay legendary, Prefab Sprout release their first album of new material for thirteen years. Crimson/Red’ has been written and recorded over the past eighteen months and is being hailed as the best Prefab Sprout material since the band’s seminal ‘Jordan: The Comeback’ album way back in 1990. Crimson/Red’ was conceived and written by McAloon himself who plays all the instruments on the record. Subjects tackled on the album include Bob Dylan (‘Mysterious’), a fondly recalled meeting between Paddy and Jimmy Webb in 1991 (‘The Songs Of Danny Galway’), the arrogance of writing for a living (‘The Best Jewel Thief In The World’), and possibly even Paddy himself (‘The Old Magician’). The band achieved Top 40 success with eight of their albums and their hits include ‘When Love Breaks Down’, ‘Cars And Girls’ and “The King Of Rock ’n’ Roll.’… Expand

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