• Record Label: Geffen
  • Release Date: Jun 16, 2015
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Negative: 1 out of 13
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  1. Sep 3, 2015
    80
    At times, as on Free, there’s a danger of things crossing into the formulaic big-pop sound the Mumfords have spread through the charts. But more often, these songs – written with Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos among others--are imbued with enough subtle strangeness to remain beguiling.
  2. Jun 16, 2015
    79
    As a debut album, The Fool is certainly an impressive first outing.
  3. Aug 25, 2015
    70
    The Fool is full of promise, and though it just barely misses the mark as far as greatness is concerned, Weaver’s established that she’s on the right track for deserved potential superstardom.
  4. Jun 26, 2015
    70
    She's confident for a new artist, but this promising debut backs up her big words.
  5. Jun 19, 2015
    70
    Her confidently unsteady voice has a refreshing energy, serving as a cohesive, quivering throughline for her intentionally nomadic debut, The Fool.
  6. Jun 16, 2015
    70
    Weaver and crew focus on the grand gestures, escalating the emotions and tension, spending as much time on the surge as the hook, and even if this tactic means the slower songs on the back half of the record drift, it also means that when the music is meant to be sweeping it often is.
  7. Jun 15, 2015
    70
    Ms. Weaver’s lead vocals sound natural and personal, while Mr. Blanco and Mr. Angelakos build heroic crescendos for her.
  8. Jun 30, 2015
    60
    The biggest highlights on The Fool ("Here Is Home") balance both of those instincts, tempering folky ache with subtle, twinkly beats.
  9. Jun 18, 2015
    60
    Each song is full of sonic acrobatics--sometimes glimmering, other times glitchy, but it's Weaver's voice that provides the heart and soul.
  10. Jun 19, 2015
    50
    The Fool contains many songs in line behind that first single; put any one of them on at random and you'll think it's a pretty great pop song. Play them in order though, for 40 minutes, and the experience becomes repetitive and empty.
  11. Jun 15, 2015
    50
    As Weaver confesses to common pitfalls of falling in and out of love, The Fool spins on like a series of diary entries with no end in sight, quite possibly because Weaver has yet to decide how this story ends.
  12. Jun 15, 2015
    49
    Weaver’s benefitted greatly from the rising tide of artists who are challenging pop’s sonic and structural rules, but on The Fool she sounds like she’s lost at sea.
  13. 33
    Instead of utilizing the talented crew’s many particular strengths to create a unique and unified sound, The Fool comes out feeling like nobody in particular and everyone at once.
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 111 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 111
  2. Negative: 33 out of 111
  1. Jun 17, 2015
    0
    After hearing the single Octahate I was quite excited for Ryn's debut album, I think we were all expecting something great. But sadly, TheAfter hearing the single Octahate I was quite excited for Ryn's debut album, I think we were all expecting something great. But sadly, The Fool isn't what we call excellent. The album is filled with fillers and the songs have awful production. It ranges from awful songs like Runaway to terrible songs like The Fool Full Review »
  2. Aug 9, 2015
    10
    Beautiful album, I met Ryn herself and she was amazing she's a very beautiful and talented girl. This album is everything and very distinct.Beautiful album, I met Ryn herself and she was amazing she's a very beautiful and talented girl. This album is everything and very distinct. Possibly the best album of the year. Full Review »
  3. Jun 17, 2015
    0
    I feel like even a ZERO is too high of a score for this album. Ryn impressed with OctaHate, but everything on 'The Fool' is just plain awful.I feel like even a ZERO is too high of a score for this album. Ryn impressed with OctaHate, but everything on 'The Fool' is just plain awful. Her vocals are atrocious and she sings like she has a cock down her throat, and the lyrics are cliché, dull and monotonous. Also every song sounds like it was made on Garage Band. I highly recommend SAVING your hard earned money and not purchasing this album. Full Review »