User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Man Plans God Laughs
by
Man Plans God Laughs Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: The 13th release for the rap group led by Chuck D was produced by Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Man Plans God Laughs
GOD DAMN, DAMN MAN, MAN LAUGHS AT GODS PLAN GOD LAUGHS AT MAN'S TRASH MAN PLANS GOD LAUGHS LET IT BE WHAT IT IS FIGHT THE POWER FOR THE KIDS WHO... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Boston Globe
    Jul 27, 2015
    80
    The disc clocks in at less than 30 minutes, but its short songs hit like a hatchet to the head.
  2. AllMusic
    Jul 27, 2015
    80
    Early Public Enemy was formatively innovative, but on this latter-day record PE explore and deepen that signature not unlike master jazzmen -- or the Stones, for that matter--and that's not only worthy of an album, it's groundbreaking in terms of hip-hop.
  3. Spin
    Sep 18, 2015
    70
    The blunt-tipped guitar chop on the title tune, glassy music boxes and slurping synths of “Give Peace a Damn,” and the more-Stones-than-country “Honky Tonk Rules” are all genuine surprises that no other legacy act is giving up.
  4. Consequence
    Jul 27, 2015
    67
    Man Plans God Laughs could have been a slab of endurance-testing ambition for the group’s latter-day era, but really, things only sound hopelessly awkward during the anti-establishment rendering of The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women” (“Honky Talk Rules”).
  5. Pitchfork
    Jul 27, 2015
    62
    Where previous PE releases this century have often sounded dated, this one often sounds forcibly modern, the sonic equivalent of your tech-challenged granddad trying to use Spotify.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 3, 2015
    60
    At times, you want more rage. Other times, more clarity. You can’t doubt Public Enemy’s resolve. But on Man Plans God Laughs, music and message remain a notch out of synch.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Aug 12, 2015
    60
    A couple of tracks here push an argument for their relevance by echoing the spacey minimalism of today's hip-hop.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. junior436068
    Aug 19, 2015
    10
    Public Enemy might be the one group we need most right now. Fantastic album.

    (Public Enemy's New album is the most under appreciated album    Public Enemy might be the one group we need most right now. Fantastic album.

    (Public Enemy's New album is the most under appreciated album so far this year, people really have forgotten who the legendary originators are if it wasn't for people like P.E Half of today's Hip Hop artists wouldn't exist they paved the way for so many artists and created a platform for the Kendricks, Lupes, and Kanyes to run with. P.E sparked a revolution which a lot of today's artists are still speaking on today. It's time to show respect to the pioneers instead of just forgetting them when the next big thing arrives cause if anything they're the ones which started it all off.)    … Expand
  2. nirvanafreak
    Aug 5, 2015
    3
    This is the same band that made It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. Just think about that for a second. I like Public Enemy butThis is the same band that made It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. Just think about that for a second. I like Public Enemy but their attempt to modernise their sound is messy and forgettable.… Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
All Current Music »