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Storytone
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Storytone Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: The deluxe two-disc set from the singer-songwriter features one disc with a 92-piece orchestra and choir plus a disc of solo versions of the same songs.
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  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Genre(s): Folk, Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Rock & Roll, Roots Rock, Country-Rock, Heartland Rock, Contemporary Blues
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
  1. Q Magazine
    Nov 13, 2014
    80
    Storytone presents the same 10 songs twice: compellingly naked save for a guitar or ukulele, then dressed to kill in Hollywood strings and big band brass. [Dec 2014, p.119]
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  2. The Guardian
    Oct 31, 2014
    80
    Many of these songs convey a querulous romance, but while the orchestra a chocolatey smoothness to the sound that renders emotional complexity glossy and neat.
  3. Paste Magazine
    Nov 4, 2014
    70
    Certainly, the most innovative thing about Storytone is its presentation, with each of the album’s 10 songs recorded in acoustic and fully orchestrated versions.
  4. PopMatters
    Nov 3, 2014
    60
    Sometimes it sounds like a deathly serious joke. Other times, it sounds like nothing more than a nicely produced notion that happened to cross his mind one day.
  5. The Observer (UK)
    Nov 3, 2014
    60
    As Storytone goes on, a pink-umbrella cocktail of vulnerability, bravery and Disney, it becomes engrossing--car-crash listening, even.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Nov 3, 2014
    50
    The orchestral Storytone comes off as a showy distraction. It's best ignored. Head for the acoustic version instead, which contains a handful of Young's better recent songs, syrup-free.
  7. The A.V. Club
    Nov 4, 2014
    25
    If A Letter Home worked to privilege and highlight songwriting tools like melody and lyricism, Storytone does the opposite, overwhelming any inherent heart or soul in Young’s original compositions.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. molecular
    Nov 8, 2014
    7
    As a long time Neil Young fan and being quite used to his "experimental" side, I went into this album being fully prepared to hate it.As a long time Neil Young fan and being quite used to his "experimental" side, I went into this album being fully prepared to hate it. Instead, I was grabbed from the first song and wasn't disappointed with the rest of the album. His vocals work surprisingly well with the orchestration and choir, probably due to the fact that all he had to do was sit there and sing. It won't go down as his best but it is very worthwhile hearing.… Expand
  2. listener
    Nov 12, 2014
    4
    Does the world really need one more mediocre later day album from once legendary musician? His 90's comeback albums were great but I just wishDoes the world really need one more mediocre later day album from once legendary musician? His 90's comeback albums were great but I just wish he stop recorded then.… Expand