Partners
by Barbra Streisand
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 36
  3. Negative: 14 out of 36
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  1. someonewhocares
    Dec 31, 2022
    5
    Barbra spoils a perfectly fine album with oversinging her duet partners just to make sure she remains on top all of the time.
  2. Panchogul
    Jan 3, 2022
    10
    No entiendo las malas críticas, es un álbum muy bueno, no perfecto, pero si muy aceptable, la producción juega un poco en contra, quizás sea eso lo que a muchos no les gustara.
  3. foxgrove
    Dec 30, 2014
    4
    There is nothing wrong with the voice of Streisand here, but the album fails because of almost everyone else. Every duet makes you long for the original rendition. A major disappointment.
  4. hobokenken
    Oct 29, 2014
    8
    While a big fan of Streisand, I have not liked very much from her CD's of late. I found this one to be somewhat of an exception. While it is annoyingly familiar (cue the swelling orchestra from the minute track 1 begins), has some laughable banter (cue the aw shucks lines between lyrics) and is mostly over-orchestrated, it is also incredibly easy to listen to and for many tracks, largelyWhile a big fan of Streisand, I have not liked very much from her CD's of late. I found this one to be somewhat of an exception. While it is annoyingly familiar (cue the swelling orchestra from the minute track 1 begins), has some laughable banter (cue the aw shucks lines between lyrics) and is mostly over-orchestrated, it is also incredibly easy to listen to and for many tracks, largely well done. While she has lost certain registers in her voice, she is probably in better vocal shape than 99% of pop singers out there. Good tracks to note-------Come Rain or Come Shine, People (w Stevie Wonder), NY State of Mind, What Kind of Fool.… Expand
  5. marco34la
    Sep 20, 2014
    7
    When I was a kid, I heard Leonard Maltin review 'Yentl' and he said, "I really wanted to like Yentl, but I just couldn't." I never really understood what he meant by that, until I got this album. I really wanted like it - the concept is great, the partners are all formidible - but the tracks and arrangements fall flat, for the most part. None of the 12 songs are nearly as good as theWhen I was a kid, I heard Leonard Maltin review 'Yentl' and he said, "I really wanted to like Yentl, but I just couldn't." I never really understood what he meant by that, until I got this album. I really wanted like it - the concept is great, the partners are all formidible - but the tracks and arrangements fall flat, for the most part. None of the 12 songs are nearly as good as the originals, with the exception of 'It had to be You."
    I completely disagree with user - TimInThe808 about NY State of Mind -- I found this new version to be so over-the-top that it's annoying! Additionally, it's the only song where Streisand diminishing vocals are abundantly apparent. A duet of "Just The Way You Are" would have a better song for Joel and Streisand at this stage in their careers. Streisand hit NY State of Mind out of the ballpark in '77 -- THAT's the quintessential version. Disasppointed, but applaud the effort and hope this is another #1 album for her.    … Expand
  6. TimInThe808
    Sep 16, 2014
    6
    A very mixed-bag to be sure, but Streisand is in very fine voice - and the new arrangement of New York State of Mind with Billy Joel is very, very good. Again, it wouldn't kill Streisand to kick up the tempo, however. Everything she releases now is so sleepy. Remember the Stony End, Guilty, etc. days?

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Sep 19, 2014
    50
    Most of the dozen tracks on Partners-- which features duet partners such as Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli and the singer’s son, Jason Gould--offer no such vantage [of a whole other way of looking at [a] song].... Yet there is strong work here--four songs that live up to the singer's stated ambition.
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  2. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Sep 16, 2014
    60
    Throughout, Streisand’s voice sound more robust than it has for some time, especially compared to her live performance last year in Brooklyn. But she has a tendency to oversing in an attempt to engage with her guests.
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  3. AllMusic
    Sep 15, 2014
    70
    Ultimately, Partners works as guided tour down Streisand's memory lane, and with her resonant voice still in supple shape, any excuse to hear her sing is a welcome invitation.
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