Oh, Fortune
by Dan Mangan
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
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  1. Q Magazine
    Dec 22, 2011
    80
    Dan Mangan here serves up the welcome alternative [to other alt-folkies.] [Jan 2012, p.123]
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  2. Uncut
    Dec 12, 2011
    80
    Highlights include the waltzing "About As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All" and a breathless canter through the Broken Social Scene stylings of "Post-War Blues." [Jan 2012, p.93]
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  3. The Guardian
    Dec 7, 2011
    80
    He can switch from personal to political in a flicker, and the knotty orchestrations of his backing band – chiefly comprising improv jazzers – share that fleetness of expression.
  5. musicOMH.com
    Dec 7, 2011
    80
    Oh Fortune is a luscious wall of sound, one that should see the criminally underrated Canadian featured more regularly alongside the heavyweights.
  6. BBC Music
    Dec 7, 2011
    70
    It's a set that does reward investigation, perhaps not with lasting love but certainly first-few-plays impressions which will last into the New Year.
  7. Drowned In Sound
    Dec 7, 2011
    70
    Oh Fortune is full of unashamed, orchestrally embellished pop-rock-folk hybrids, instantly accessible and almost as speedily rewarding.
  8. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 7, 2011
    70
    Oh Fortune spans a wider spectrum than its folky core might imply, adding grandeur and a refreshing, cerebral spin to proceedings.
  9. AllMusic
    Dec 7, 2011
    60
    Oh, Fortune is still an indie folk album at heart, with Mangan's acoustic guitar and baritone voice giving every song its most basic foundation, but it's also the most ornate thing he's ever done.
  10. Blurt Magazine
    Dec 7, 2011
    60
    Maybe it's just a question of getting used to this new Mangan, but you can't help but lament the old one's demise.
  11. NOW Magazine
    Dec 7, 2011
    60
    While it's dense with mood, gloomy lyrics and studio texture, almost to a fault, it's thin on memorable melodies.
  12. PopMatters
    Dec 7, 2011
    30
    For this particular moment, though, Oh Fortune reveals that Mangan is still a lightweight.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. BrowSpencer
    Jun 29, 2012
    0
    This album is great because it sweeps you through a great fluid motion of feelings within linked songs. If I'm feeling sad this album willThis album is great because it sweeps you through a great fluid motion of feelings within linked songs. If I'm feeling sad this album will make me sadder, but I'll then turn happy realizing the album had such powerful movements and then I would listen to it again, and I would have the same experience. The album is a roller coaster of emotion that goes up and down many times and it never stops until its all over. LIKE low everything he's made, and this was his best piece of art.… Full Review »
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