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James Blake
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James Blake Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 38 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 171 Ratings

  • Summary: Following positive reviews for his EPs, James Blake releases his first full-length album.
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Top Track

Limit to Your Love
There's a limit to your love Like a waterfall in slow motion Like a map with no ocean There's a limit to your love Your love, your love, your... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. The A.V. Club
    Mar 22, 2011
    100
    James Blake is dubstep's crossover moment, rolling back the hostile skronk and centering on a croon that rivals Antony Hegarty for lovelorn beauty.
  2. Clash Music
    Feb 8, 2011
    90
    His are fragile, beautiful songs floating over warmly alien, sometimes seemingly formless musical structures yet it's an effect borne through unconventional levels of space and patience.
  3. Filter
    Mar 14, 2011
    90
    With not a sound wasted, James Blake is everything we wanted James Blake to make.
  4. BBC Music
    Feb 8, 2011
    80
    Aside from the hype, this album is by no means a feasible breakthrough into the mainstream--there's not stride enough for that. But when it's at its best, it's boundary-breaking.
  5. Uncut
    Feb 15, 2011
    80
    Like fellow minimalists The xx, Blake takes from dubstep an awareness of space and silence; he appreciates the power of a perfectly weighted pause. [Mar 2011, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The Boston Phoenix
    Feb 8, 2011
    75
    Full of airy vocals and synths, the album sounds as if it could lift off at any moment if not for the drum thumps tethering it down. But the beats sound weighty only in contrast.
  7. NOW Magazine
    Feb 16, 2011
    40
    Blake's songs are built around a single typically melancholic lyric and melody that he works over, kind of like an R&B singer, while gradually switching stylistic gears.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. XavierBlaq
    Dec 27, 2013
    10
    Considered an important moment in the emerging genre, Post-Dubstep, from the time of its release, this debut album from James Blake isConsidered an important moment in the emerging genre, Post-Dubstep, from the time of its release, this debut album from James Blake is absolutely amazing. Though Post-Dubstep is definitely an appropriate label for the album, tracks like "I Mind", "Limit To Your Love" (a cover of a Feist song, by the way), "The Wilhelm Scream", and the short interludes "Why Don't You Call Me" and "Give Me My Month" defy this label and show how wildly experimental James Blake really is. This one is mind-blowing from its brilliant opener, "Unluck", to its soulful finale, "Measurements", and in between contains songs that use the emotional elements of R&B/Soul and the hypnotic qualities of electronic music to its fullest potential.… Expand
  2. Dingo
    Jun 30, 2011
    10
    Immaculate, affecting, addictive. James Blake takes the cake. I Never Learnt to Share is perfect. Lindesfarne II is gourgeous. I'm not sure ifImmaculate, affecting, addictive. James Blake takes the cake. I Never Learnt to Share is perfect. Lindesfarne II is gourgeous. I'm not sure if the album is greater than the sum of its parts because I can't count that high.… Expand
  4. whalestep
    Feb 9, 2011
    10
    A truly brilliant album. Blake has taken the most distinctive elements of dubstep, stripped them down to their most minimal core, and infusedA truly brilliant album. Blake has taken the most distinctive elements of dubstep, stripped them down to their most minimal core, and infused the result with a soulfulness rarely found in contemporary music. It's beyond words and beyond anything anyone has done, and is undoubtedly the best album of 2011.… Expand
  5. football101
    Feb 9, 2011
    9
    James Blake's new world dubstep is awe-inspiring. This is a new genre, if most aren't already aware of his innovation from "Limit to YourJames Blake's new world dubstep is awe-inspiring. This is a new genre, if most aren't already aware of his innovation from "Limit to Your Love," Feist's heart-wrenching love tale about love and it's inevitable extinction. He takes the elements of dubstep, and what we know of it, and fuses soul with latent piano drools. This album may be the best of the year so far, and may be the top of the year as a whole, right alongside Bright Eyes' "The People's Key."… Expand
  6. Kamal_Voltaic
    Oct 30, 2012
    8
    Certainly one of the best albums of 2011.
    I usually like Dance-Pop, but this album has really stood out. I just love the use of the    Certainly one of the best albums of 2011.
    I usually like Dance-Pop, but this album has really stood out. I just love the use of the Electronica in songs like the powerful 'Unluck' or 'I Mind'. The echoing and the pauses create a haunting, beautiful effect.
    I guess some people will inevitably give it 10/10, but I don't see it as flawless.    … Expand
  7. hydrawithears
    Nov 20, 2011
    8
    The debut studio album by James Blake surprisingly managed to climb to the UK Top 10. It was also the first release of 2011 to receive a 9.0The debut studio album by James Blake surprisingly managed to climb to the UK Top 10. It was also the first release of 2011 to receive a 9.0 rating from Pitchfork. Now, if this is not an accomplishment, then what is? But James Blake deserves all the buzz for one reason only: itâ… Expand
  8. 01lander
    Feb 12, 2012
    0
    James Blake is an overhyped indie artist with nothing really behind his pretentious music style... People praise The Wilhelm Scream withoutJames Blake is an overhyped indie artist with nothing really behind his pretentious music style... People praise The Wilhelm Scream without actually realising that it was his father who wrote the song. The production is dull, and overall, this release is boring.… Expand

See all 28 User Reviews

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