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Semper Femina
by
Semper Femina Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 87 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth full-length release for the British folk singer-songwriter was produced by Blake Mills.
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Top Track

Nothing, Not Nearly
I won't forget the late September Where we danced among the midnight embers But it's going like a half-remembered dream Left and north of where we... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. The A.V. Club
    Mar 10, 2017
    100
    Her steady output has produced some of her generation’s finest records, and her sixth, Semper Femina, is among her most affecting to date.
  2. The Independent (UK)
    Mar 1, 2017
    100
    When pondering gets this skilled, and this fruitful, the dividends far outweigh the misgivings.
  3. Clash Music
    Mar 13, 2017
    90
    Semper Femina matches Laura Marling’s personal quest to unlock facets of her identity echoing with the wider struggle to clear a space for the feminine voice within society itself. With a triumphant new album it seems that this songwriter has found a room of her own.
  4. The Skinny
    Mar 6, 2017
    80
    Semper Femina continues her decade-long hot streak with another collection of finely wrought vignettes on love, loss, and the empowerment that can be found in both.
  5. AllMusic
    Mar 9, 2017
    80
    Having entered the limelight early, the 27-year-old singer/songwriter has now settled into a comfortable groove to on this finely honed career highlight.
  6. The New York Times
    Mar 8, 2017
    80
    Ms. Marling doesn’t cast herself as heroine or victim, angel or avenger. She does something trickier, and perhaps braver. Clear-eyed, calmly determined and invitingly tuneful, she captures each situation in all its ambiguity.
  7. Mojo
    Feb 27, 2017
    60
    Some might find the work's almost wilful-seeming opacity and slight whiff of academia off-putting. Judged on purely musical terms, however, it's a ting of great beauty. [Apr 2017, p.90]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Ck10072
    Mar 12, 2017
    10
    Utterly exquisite. The Valley could for me be sung to Joni Mitchell. A brilliant wonderful album. How Laura just gets better with eachUtterly exquisite. The Valley could for me be sung to Joni Mitchell. A brilliant wonderful album. How Laura just gets better with each release is beyond me. And yet, I suspect, like Joni's middle period, I suspect the best is still yet to come.… Expand
  2. CharlieGray
    Aug 1, 2020
    10
    It’s an amazing album from start to finish, mature and greatly written and produced
  4. Peter7000
    Mar 18, 2017
    9
    Brilliant album. A record I would like to buy for pretty much everyone I know. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen. I'm giving it a 9Brilliant album. A record I would like to buy for pretty much everyone I know. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen. I'm giving it a 9 and not a 10 as I think Ms Marling will keep growing from here and create even better work. Blake Mills' production is great also!… Expand
  5. Music_Observer
    May 14, 2017
    8
    Laura Marling succeeds in creating a passionate, pleasing, and well developed folk rock album with a few beautiful standouts amidst theLaura Marling succeeds in creating a passionate, pleasing, and well developed folk rock album with a few beautiful standouts amidst the simplicity that can make anyone’s experience worthwhile. My Score: 142/180 (Solid) = 7.9/10… Expand
  6. Mayfieldja
    Dec 29, 2017
    8
    The musical composition throughout this album is incredibly strong. Everything blends so well together while crafting a mournful tone with anThe musical composition throughout this album is incredibly strong. Everything blends so well together while crafting a mournful tone with an ounce of hope. Marling acts a siren pulling you in with each track. This British Folk musician has formulated an album that is thought provoking, beautiful, and totally worth several listens. Tracks that stand out are “Soothing”, “The Valley”, and “Wild Once”.… Expand

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