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Educated Guess
by
Educated Guess Image
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

  • Summary: The singer-songwriter's latest is a solo release in every sense of the word, as DiFranco wrote, produced, played, and sang everything on the album (not to mention releasing it on her own record label).

Top Track

Bliss Like This
i said venice you heard vegas now i say either way baby let's go i get so shaky and i just can't shake it i bliss like this i'm one of those but i... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    Educated Guess is an absolutely stunning creation, although it did take a few listens for me to begin to fully appreciate what I was hearing.
  2. Spin
    75
    An album sanded with sad humor and a return to old loves. [Mar 2004, p.96]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Filter
    74
    She dives into a murkier, less-definable world that is part acoustic neo-soul, part spoken word and dreamier than you might imagine. [#9, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Blender
    70
    These are among the most rivetingly unconventional vocal performances she's ever offered. [Mar 2004, p.116]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. The A.V. Club
    70
    The album benefits from DiFranco's emphasis on spare shimmer, though it also perpetuates her recent tendency to let her songs languidly drift along, for better and for worse.
  6. Q Magazine
    60
    THe jazzy stylings are a mixed blessing... [but] her fans will not be disappointed. [Mar 2003, p.101]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. E! Online
    25
    It's just so staccato and nonlinear, a sort of free-jazz version of rock with just too much going on and little worth hearing.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 5 out of 19
  1. monica
    Jan 29, 2004
    10
    simply amazing
  2. aniappreciator
    Feb 15, 2004
    10
    dig deeper, folks. we are lucky to be around at the same time at this album (and her others...). in the future, people will wistfully dream dig deeper, folks. we are lucky to be around at the same time at this album (and her others...). in the future, people will wistfully dream of living during ani's time, and you'll be napping...WAKE UP! this is a great album...… Expand
  4. dorrie
    Apr 5, 2004
    10
    I believe this album is one of her greatest achievements. Along with having absolutely amazing lyrics, as usual, she is now using the music I believe this album is one of her greatest achievements. Along with having absolutely amazing lyrics, as usual, she is now using the music to portray the words in it's own way. In her previous albums, which were all incredible with great music, there was a level of superficiality to it. The music was there for her to sing along with. Over time, her albums have gotten better and gotten more sophisticated...this one is by far the most sophisticated yet. … Expand
  5. TonyW
    Jul 1, 2004
    9
    Loved it.
  6. AdamB
    Jan 21, 2004
    8
    Nearly perfect! This is what I've been waiting for! She doing it just how I like it, just guitar and killer lyrics. Ignore E! Online, I Nearly perfect! This is what I've been waiting for! She doing it just how I like it, just guitar and killer lyrics. Ignore E! Online, I mean c'mon it's E! what do they know? Let them keep on kissing Britney's a**! Ani is singing from the heart here and you can feel it! "Bodily" is the most starkly honest and deepest song I think I've ever heard her sing. The title song is Ani at her best, lyrics and music combining to make something just wonderfully filling and touching. There is no who can touch her!… Expand
  7. Ravenous
    Nov 21, 2010
    4
    Probably the worst album ever from one of our most innovative modern musicians and poets. This dissonant album lacks the musical ingenuity ofProbably the worst album ever from one of our most innovative modern musicians and poets. This dissonant album lacks the musical ingenuity of much of her other work.… Expand
  8. jamall
    Jan 21, 2004
    0
    If you like overwrought crap, this is the cd for you.

See all 19 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Most Discussed Album of 2004

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