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Life For Rent
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Life For Rent Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 77 Ratings

  • Summary: The British singer sticks to the successful formula established on her 1999 debut "No Angel" for this sophomore effort.

Top Track

White Flag
I know you think that I shouldn't still love you or tell you that. But if I didn't say it, well I'd still have felt it where's the sense in that? I... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. PopMatters
    90
    This record seems to outweigh the previous album in terms of quality and depth.
  2. Blender
    80
    The emotional terrain is much more treacherous here, and more rewarding for it. [Oct 2003, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. AllMusic
    80
    The appeal of Life for Rent is what makes Dido appealing -- she's unassuming and gentle, but her songs are so melodic and atmospheric they easily work their way into the subconscious, and the records are well-crafted enough to be engaging on repeated plays.
  4. Rolling Stone
    70
    Life for Rent isn't groundbreaking, but it has its own kind of integrity.
  5. The Guardian
    60
    Its best moments suggest that Armstrong is unfairly maligned.... At worst, it's twee and bland, aural wallpaper that only someone who didn't really like music could care about. Either way, it isn't going to change anyone's mind about Dido.
  6. Launch.com
    60
    Life For Rent breaks no new ground, and while the publicity machine proffers a failed Dido romance as its inspiration, the album retains her debut's style yet without its wonderfully miserable substance.
  7. Dot Music
    40
    Her bland-o-meter appears to be well and truly busted.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 2 out of 19
  1. JohnM
    Nov 24, 2003
    10
    Great, great, great!
  2. LuisG
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    .... Life For Rent is soft and song after song a continuany of love , breakup and hope....theres no bouncing off the walls ...just down to .... Life For Rent is soft and song after song a continuany of love , breakup and hope....theres no bouncing off the walls ...just down to earth simple lyrics " alot of words and pleanty of meaning" although it may not garner much airplay its best that way..the rare album you can hear again and again and never quite quit....truly a delight....KEY TRACKS : See The Sun, see you when your 40, dont leave home… Expand
  4. Alex
    Oct 2, 2003
    10
    Dido has produced absolutely the greatest and finest CD of 2003 with Life For Rent. Hit single White Flag is just the beginning of an album Dido has produced absolutely the greatest and finest CD of 2003 with Life For Rent. Hit single White Flag is just the beginning of an album crammed to the brim with wonderful, atmospheric classic ballads like "Don't Leave Home" and "This Land Is Mine." Dido also experiments with dance and electronica on songs such as "Stoned" and "Sand In My Shoes." Highly recommended - buy it NOW!… Expand
  5. LunarN
    Jun 11, 2004
    9
    "Life for Rent" Follows all the formulas that her debut album follows, and this is the CD's greatest strength. If you liked Dido before "Life for Rent" Follows all the formulas that her debut album follows, and this is the CD's greatest strength. If you liked Dido before this album, you will like her again here. Each song does its best to be different from the last, but the easy-going tunes often blend together nonetheless. Some songs will fall flat, but most will haunt you enough to listen to them quite a few times.… Expand
  6. MichaelH
    Oct 4, 2003
    8
    Dido follows in a long line of talented Irish singers,( Sinead O'Connor, Dolores O'Riordan, and the Coors to some degree) with a Dido follows in a long line of talented Irish singers,( Sinead O'Connor, Dolores O'Riordan, and the Coors to some degree) with a beautiful voice. That the album is minimalistic to showcase this may come off to some as dull or boring. For those that have grown tired of all the new artist with overproduced, oversung, and overdubbed voices, (pick one!), it's refreshing to hear such a wonderfull sound. This may not have all of the hooks that the first album had, but with such little choices out there, it is still a nice counterbalance to the other "pop" garbage shoved in front of us. Sit back, listen and enjoy. … Expand
  7. clem666
    Jul 29, 2020
    8
    Dido's voice perfectly accompanies the chain of songs on 'Life for Rent'. Most of these are touching, soft and nostalgic and some of them willDido's voice perfectly accompanies the chain of songs on 'Life for Rent'. Most of these are touching, soft and nostalgic and some of them will surely transcend you. I think the dull feeling you get when listening to 'Life for Rent' is a part of Dido's conception. I got interested in this album in 2020 (during isolation, yes) and it clearly reminded me past years. This record actually made me feel like being in 2003 again. Perhaps it should be considered a melancholic fossil from the past. That's how I chose to understand it to surpass the boring feeling you can feel while listening to it.
    Hopefully the record stops after 13 tracks because more would have been too much of Dido's honeyed voice. I have to admit though that the end of the album is kind of repetitve.    … Expand
  8. NseE
    Oct 20, 2003
    1
    A very dull, soulless effort. Took my copy right back to the store, sorry for the bugger that takes it. Gave it a 1 for 'Who makes you A very dull, soulless effort. Took my copy right back to the store, sorry for the bugger that takes it. Gave it a 1 for 'Who makes you feel'.… Expand

See all 19 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Most Discussed Album of 2003
94
#94 Most Shared Album of 2003

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