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North Star Deserter Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest album includes guest appearances by Constellation artists A Silver Mt. Zion, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Fugazi's Guy Picciotto.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. It’s one of the richest and most satisfying of his storied career.
  2. North Start Deserter, however, is in a class of its own.
  3. Under The Radar
    80
    North Star Deserter marks Chesnutt's eleventh full-length and proves he still knows how to craft a masterpiece. [Fall 2007, p.78]
  4. The Wire
    80
    The [guest] musicians have the good sense to know when to let Chesnutt's dry-leaf vocals and muted acoustic guitar carry the songs, and when to swell up and bring heightened Gothic intensity to the feelings of melancholy and dread. [Oct 2007, p.55]
  5. On North Star Deserter, the musicians working with Vic Chesnutt serve as collaborators rather than simple accompanists, and they've truly brought out the best in one another; this is powerful, adventurous music that's as challenging as it is beautiful, and ranks with Chesnutt's finest work to date.
  6. The more succinct songs on North Star Deserter sound like a return to the dark woods after years in the city.
  7. Mojo
    60
    North Star Deserter is unrestrained and always affecting. [Nov 2007, p.106]

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. BrandonM.
    Oct 20, 2007
    10
    Brilliant album from Vic. He has a talented pool of musicians here backing him up, but it's his lyrics that shine here. Definitely his Brilliant album from Vic. He has a talented pool of musicians here backing him up, but it's his lyrics that shine here. Definitely his best thus far this decade. Expand