Real
by Lydia Loveless
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14
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  1. narek1
    Aug 22, 2016
    1
    crap, she just saying a corny words with slow music, i'm 100% sure that I will not remember the name of songs from this album tomorrow, listen this only when you are on molly or something.
  2. thatdeepbass
    Aug 19, 2016
    9
    If any artist can get away with calling an album Real, it’s Lydia Loveless — from her earliest work, her songs have always been smart but utterly fearless in their honesty about what’s happening in her head, heart, and soul. 2016’s Real is Loveless’ fourth album, and it’s her most mature and polished bit of studio craft to date. While most of Loveless’ music has walked a line between honkyIf any artist can get away with calling an album Real, it’s Lydia Loveless — from her earliest work, her songs have always been smart but utterly fearless in their honesty about what’s happening in her head, heart, and soul. 2016’s Real is Loveless’ fourth album, and it’s her most mature and polished bit of studio craft to date. While most of Loveless’ music has walked a line between honky tonk country and raucous rock & roll, Real finds taking a few steps back from her twangy roots and embracing a more pop-oriented sound that still puts the emphasis on guitars but boasts a cool sheen that’s decidedly different than her sound on Boy Crazy or Somewhere Else.

    Loveless is a master lyricist, articulate and expressive without seeming forced or hitting a false note, and her vocals on Real are superb, less the work of a belter but still as passionate and eloquent as you could hope for. Anyone who wasn’t convinced that Lydia Loveless is a major artist by Somewhere Else should make a point of giving Real a listen — at her best, she’s quite simply as good and as brave a singer and songwriter as anyone working today, and Real finds her at the top of her game    … Collapse
  3. Scraper
    Aug 19, 2016
    5
    These songs are technically good. Proficient song writing. Nice vocals. A teenagers dream. It's just not very original. It's kind of generic lyrically. And the production is high-gloss shine, allowing for no organic sounds, noises, throatiness, etc. I just can't seem to learn that critics praise everything that they've heard before if it's set up well. When you're an adult, it's hard toThese songs are technically good. Proficient song writing. Nice vocals. A teenagers dream. It's just not very original. It's kind of generic lyrically. And the production is high-gloss shine, allowing for no organic sounds, noises, throatiness, etc. I just can't seem to learn that critics praise everything that they've heard before if it's set up well. When you're an adult, it's hard to communicate with someone that their art lacks an essence drawn out by taking risks.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Record Collector
    Oct 7, 2016
    60
    The sassy European and fraught, fatalistic Bilbao also have their moments, though there’s too great a reliance on mid-tempo numbers and the proto-punk aggression hinted at sadly fails to materialise.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Sep 23, 2016
    75
    It sounds like Loveless has found herself, somewhere between traditional country and '70s pop rock, delivered with salacious grit and emotional gravity to spare.
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  3. The 405
    Sep 1, 2016
    50
    Her weary disposition begs for songs that are stripped down and reduced to their component parts--songs that don't fuss around. That's the problem--the fussing, the instinct to add more. It sounds like she's reaching for something, but she doesn't know what it is or where to find it.
    Read full review
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