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Earthtones
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Metascore
80

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

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length release for the Toronto-based singer-songwriter was produced by Robbie Lackritz and features contributions from James Gadson and Pino Palladino, who also appeared on D'Angelo's Black Messiah.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Mojo
    Jan 19, 2018
    80
    Cool, humorous, tender, this is a delicious thing. [Feb 2018, p.96]
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  2. Exclaim
    Jan 19, 2018
    80
    This is the work of ravenous, restless musicians who refuse to be pigeonholed.
  3. AllMusic
    Jan 19, 2018
    80
    Earthtones is a refreshing, playful set that hits a sweet spot between classic smooth soul and Jurvanen's pensive soft rock.
  4. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 16, 2018
    78
    The entire production is clever and suave, with effervescent female backing vox, even as the backside ranges more adventurous with the low-down "Bad Boys Need Love Too" and tinkering "Everything to Everyone."
  5. Uncut
    Jan 19, 2018
    70
    Rest assured it all goes down as easy as a tequila sunrise, though Earthtones could've used more of the adventurous spirit of "So Free," a gorgeously supple eight-minute vamp. [Feb 2018, p.23]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. mvtheisen
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    Wow!
    I come to Metacritic to check out what's new and well rated. Had never heard of Bahamas before, but based on the score I thought I    Wow!
    I come to Metacritic to check out what's new and well rated. Had never heard of Bahamas before, but based on the score I thought I would give it a listen. I was SO impressed by this album. I want to score it higher than a 10 for the creativity, originality and musicianship.... not to mention how well it's produced.
    Love it!
    The vocals are FANTASTIC, and if you have a good stereo I invite you to turn down the lights, crank it up just a bit, and let the music just pull you in.    … Expand
  2. jrross91592
    Jan 21, 2018
    10
    Who says you have to sing sad songs in a sad way? There's something beautiful about sharing a message without being assuming or suggestive.Who says you have to sing sad songs in a sad way? There's something beautiful about sharing a message without being assuming or suggestive. The contrast is absolutely perfect. To be able to communicate the feeling of "yeah, this sucks, but it's okay" is so simple, but so genius. The lyrics are so well crafted and self explanatory that welcoming these funky, sexual beats doesn't dilute the sincerity of the album, when it otherwise could have. I missed that contrast. So often artists try to tell me how to feel by structuring the lyrics and the instruments in parallels. It's not necessary. I get it. Bear with me, but think about that scene from Reservoir Dogs where Mr. Blonde is slicing the dudes ear off to "stuck in the middle with you", or the end of Godfather I where Michael's son is getting baptized while the heads of the five families get murdered. Irony is powerful. I feel that here. It's reassurance that you can genuinely address your feelings without letting them consume you. What the hell am I talking about. 10/10.… Expand