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High Dive Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 6 Ratings

  • Summary: Following her tenure as singer for roots-rockers Lone Justice, Maria McKee issued a series of three solo releases in the mid 1990s, and then remained relatively quiet for seven years until 'High Dive,' her self-released return.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. McKee's High Dive is simply an awe-inspiring album and easily her finest recorded moment.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The music winds and soars and sidles. [9 May 2003, p.76]
  3. Uncut
    80
    Packed with big, epic pop. [Jun 2003, p.102]
  4. Mojo
    80
    The best solo album of her career. [May 2003, p.90]
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    There's a lack of clutter to songs such as To The Open Spaces and the title cut, with its barely-there brass arrangements, which makes them simple pleasures, and among the best songs of her career. [Jun 2003, p.102]
  6. Blender
    60
    Some of her material still has an emotional earnestness that would make Bono blush. [#16, p.121]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Aug 4, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Any subtext that could be garnered from my review of SUPER 8 was purely coincidental. I hope it's you who reads me, S. I will never quite figure out what exactly happened. That elevator scene in "Gulliver's Travels" is a pretty accurate description of my first day at work. Expand
  2. PaulP
    May 30, 2003
    10
    This is an awesome album! The music sweeps and takes you in all directions. I love it. Her voice is fantastic, as always. I can't say This is an awesome album! The music sweeps and takes you in all directions. I love it. Her voice is fantastic, as always. I can't say enough about this CD. Expand
  3. Peter
    Jun 4, 2003
    6
    I have really tried to fall in love with this album, but failed. McKee's voice is one of the best in business, she is free spirited and I have really tried to fall in love with this album, but failed. McKee's voice is one of the best in business, she is free spirited and stays clear of the boring corporate mainstream. But with these songs--surely inventive and clever at times--she just doesn't sparkle the way she used to. And there are actually a few flat notes here and there. Expand
  4. BJO'Malley
    Jan 23, 2005
    6
    This just isn't the Maria I know and LOVE! Have been a lot of comparisons between High Dive and Life is Sweet. I don't get that. This just isn't the Maria I know and LOVE! Have been a lot of comparisons between High Dive and Life is Sweet. I don't get that. Life is Sweet is an amazing album, High Dive is, um, boring. I can't wait until "Peddlin' Dreams" comes out...April '05. Expand