The Brave And The Bold
by Tortoise & Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. Q Magazine
    60
    A fun if disposable diversion. [Feb 2006, p.105]
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  2. Slant Magazine
    60
    The more adventurous picks on The Brave And The Bold sink more often than they soar.
  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    Sometimes mesmerizing, often depressing. [23 Feb 2006, p.68]
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  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    Twist[s] both the ultra-familiar and the obscure into awkward new shapes. [21 Jan 2006, p.35]
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  6. Billboard
    60
    More often than not, Oldham's signature vocalizing keeps Tortoise from falling back on old sonic tricks. [21 Jan 2006]
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  7. AllMusic
    60
    Approach it as a slightly goofy one-off, and you won't be disappointed.
  8. Dot Music
    60
    Hit and miss, then, but certainly brave and bold.
  9. Pitchfork
    54
    In short: We all really wish this was better-- less tiring, less dour, less sluggish-- than it actually is.
  10. Urb
    50
    The end result just isn't up to the standards of which either of these musical titans are capable. [Mar 2006, p.119]
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  11. The New York Times
    50
    This record is never obvious; it has no agenda. It advances no cultural or historical theory. It is not meant to accompany psychic healing or political protest, and it has no real connection to anyone's alternative-anything movement. There are so many things it isn't, that it barely is. [16 Jan 2006]
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  12. Stylus Magazine
    50
    The vast majority of this release just doesn’t stick together coherently and suffers because of it.
  13. Playlouder
    40
    With the ability of the participants, surely there could have been more interesting material to explore, and sadly 'The Brave And The Bold' ends up being anything but.
  14. BBC collective
    40
    For Bonnie Prince Billy it's an atypically sexless affair with only his version of Richard Thompson’s Calvary Cross worthy of his previous covers record, More Revery.
  15. Alternative Press
    40
    Tortoise sound remarkably un-Tortoise-like on nearly everything... [and] Oldham's stunning vocals are rarely allowed the space they deserve. [Mar 2006, p.126]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. FValeron
    Apr 27, 2006
    4
    Do not ignore Chris M. my friends. I'm a huge Oldham fan, but this record is nonsense. 'Tis a shame...
  2. EstanislaoB
    Apr 11, 2006
    9
    Es un album excelente, en el que se ve la perfecta unión entre dos grupos, que se multiplican hasta el infinito. Y además la Es un album excelente, en el que se ve la perfecta unión entre dos grupos, que se multiplican hasta el infinito. Y además la seleccion de canciones es muy buena. Well done… Full Review »
  3. LeonardoF
    Feb 8, 2006
    8
    i would give this 7.5. there are some pretty good covers (daniel, love is love, cravo e canela, thunder road) but there are also some lousy i would give this 7.5. there are some pretty good covers (daniel, love is love, cravo e canela, thunder road) but there are also some lousy songs too.… Full Review »
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