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Star-Crossed Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 161 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest full-length release for the country singer-songwriter was produced by Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. 100
    A record that has surpassed all of the greatness her previous efforts entailed. Exceeding the status of a collection of songs, instead star-crossed takes us on a journey from beginning to end with bound-to-be hits like “Justified” and “Cherry Blossom” along for the ride whilst perfectly conveying a story that yet has to find its ending.
  2. Sep 16, 2021
    88
    It’s an album where she can be not so much “happy and sad at the same time” as heartsick, defiant, nostalgic, self-doubting, sassy, rueful and flatlining in the same divorce-court feedback loop. ... And one of the best things about “Star-Crossed” is its boldly weird but highly satisfying finale.
  3. Sep 3, 2021
    83
    While she leaves her full Western get-up at the door, Musgraves continues to bring her Southern sensibilities with her, with a work that reaches to the soul of the country genre, if not the most obvious musical trappings.
  4. Sep 7, 2021
    80
    Musgraves’ storytelling skills and musical instincts are as strong as ever on star-crossed. While it’s not perfect, love rarely is, and breakups never are.
  5. Sep 9, 2021
    77
    Its seams show at every moment, in ways that feel artful—spoken interludes, thematic callbacks, a disorienting cover of Violeta Parra’s eternal “Gracias a la Vida” that shifts between settings like the grand finale of an Oscar-bait drama—and others that feel forced.
  6. Sep 13, 2021
    70
    The maturity and class displayed here is a pleasant surprise (which has nothing to do with Musgraves, and everything to do with divorce/breakup album stereotypes), and the experience is unexpectedly serene given the music's content and overarching themes, but otherwise star-crossed is merely nice: a lukewarm batch of songs eager to saturate backgrounds rather than absorb your full attention.
  7. Sep 3, 2021
    45
    The balance of star-crossed is full of cringe-worthy lyrics and failed efforts to move further into pop (“good wife”) and dance (“what doesn’t kill me,” “breadwinner”) realms. Produced by the same team as Golden Hour (Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk), it’s hard to assess how that album’s gossamer sheen, that enchantingly revealed subtle hooks and melodies, gave way to almost nothing that stands out.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 65
  2. Negative: 12 out of 65
  1. Sep 10, 2021
    10
    hey queen! girl you have done it again. constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. i’d say i’m surprised but i know whohey queen! girl you have done it again. constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. i’d say i’m surprised but i know who you are. i’ve seen it up close and personal. girl you make me so proud. Expand
  2. Sep 10, 2021
    10
    Kacey Musgraves the queen of country music, taylor tanked so hard, kacey ended her.
  3. Sep 11, 2021
    10
    best album I've listened thid year yup yup, deserves aoty, soty and more. cherry blossom my fav
  4. Sep 26, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I’m amazed, this album exceeded my expectations. Kacey was able to deliver a masterpiece. Every song is exquisite. Expand
  5. Oct 3, 2022
    9
    Kacey brings us a full-on masterpiece. The album tells us the story surrounding her divorce and how she dealt with it in a magical andKacey brings us a full-on masterpiece. The album tells us the story surrounding her divorce and how she dealt with it in a magical and beautiful way. While still bringing notorious country influence, the singer-songwriter creates a very interesting bond between country and pop. It's indisputably one of the best albums released in 2021, and of this decade. Expand
  6. Oct 29, 2021
    8
    She continues her streak, although it was almost expected that right after a masterpiece, it would not be that possible to release another one.
  7. Sep 18, 2021
    0
    If you want to listen to some good modern country music you are out of luck. If you like something that sounds like a 1970 James bond themeIf you want to listen to some good modern country music you are out of luck. If you like something that sounds like a 1970 James bond theme song, then I guess it's for you Expand

See all 65 User Reviews