How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
by Florence + the Machine
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Jun 2, 2015
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 703 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 626 out of 703
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 703
  3. Negative: 54 out of 703
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  1. DiegoMd
    Jun 14, 2015
    4
    Not nearly as solid and coherent as Ceremonials and the main songs are not at the level of Lungs singles, this is such a disappointment specially with songs like HBHBHB
  2. Evic21
    Sep 13, 2015
    6
    No boundries are pushed here. Welch sounds the same as she did on the over produced "Ceremonials" which is a shame because I find her voice to be annoying and redundant now. "Third Eye" is the best song on the whole album, but even that one song coulden't save this ship from sinking. The biggest disappointemnt of 2015 by far.
  3. crystaltowers
    Sep 1, 2015
    5
    How Big, How Blue, How....Boring?
    Ignore the blind devotees who would give Flo sitting on a keyboard, 10/10. This album is not like the others.
    Shouty and by-the-numbers, "HBHBHB" really lacks the thrilling tunes of her previous two releases. I adore those albums. I saw her live in Sydney a couple of years ago. So I'm a pretty big fan. But there's no "Shake it Out" here. Lead    How Big, How Blue, How....Boring?
    Ignore the blind devotees who would give Flo sitting on a keyboard, 10/10. This album is not like the others.

    Shouty and by-the-numbers, "HBHBHB" really lacks the thrilling tunes of her previous two releases. I adore those albums. I saw her live in Sydney a couple of years ago. So I'm a pretty big fan. But there's no "Shake it Out" here.

    Lead singles "Ship To Wreck" and "What Kind of Man" fall so flat melodically, that it leaves our Flo sounding more like a foghorn blaring over the sea.

    The only spark akin to her previous work, is "Queen of Peace" - complimented by a beautiful string section, it is memorable, sweeping and epic (check out the video too). The rest though, fluctuates between OK and mediocre.

    Not every album can be a classic though. So I will continue to ride the waves with her, to see where she goes next.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2015
31
#31 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 8, 2015
    78
    Third LP How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful dispenses with that ethos [positivity on the aftermath of heartbreak], embracing the raging/wallowing period that's delivered through biblical and Greek mythological references.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Jul 9, 2015
    75
    Some of the album's most memorable moments come when the power is dialed down, as with the moving "Long & Lost." But there's no denying how captivating this group can be when the arrangement allows them to fly free.
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  3. No Ripcord
    Jun 15, 2015
    90
    The greater the risk, the greater the reward. And I can think of no better reward than this album.
    Read full review
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