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The Grey Album Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 47 Ratings

  • Summary: DJ Danger Mouse's bootleg hit, which mixes together vocals from Jay-Z's 'The Black Album' and music from The Beatles' 'The White Album,' has brought legal action from Beatles record label EMI, preventing record stores from selling the album.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Spin
    100
    While the novelty factor alone makes it worth the download time, it works as a cohesive album long after the initial shock wears off. [Apr 2004, p.91]
  2. For what it is, for what it does, for what it represents and for exposing the idiocy of people who only care about 'what it earns us', then, a truly, TRULY great pop record.
  3. Dangermouse's actions have breathed creative life back into a 35-year-old record while inventing a completely new work of hip-hop art.
  4. While The Grey Album is truly one of the more interesting pirate mashups ever done, it ultimately fails at the hands of perfectionism with several pieces sounding rushed to beat some other knucklehead to his clever idea.
  5. Urb
    70
    This'll retain its heat only until everyone's heard it. [Apr 2004, p.88]
  6. There are certainly more fun moments than not, at the very least rendering The Grey Album enjoyable, but it’s hard to argue for any reason other than its novelty.
  7. Of course it's a gimmick, but about half of it works anyway.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 32
  3. Negative: 6 out of 32
  1. DanC
    Sep 7, 2004
    10
    The fact that anyone can mix Jay-Z and the Beatles and pull it off is worth a ten!
  2. KulayM
    Jun 19, 2006
    10
    one of the most underrated, unreleased albums in hip-hop history. this album marks the ingeniousness of Danger Mouse, who would later go on one of the most underrated, unreleased albums in hip-hop history. this album marks the ingeniousness of Danger Mouse, who would later go on to team up with MF Doom and form the group, Danger Doom. Expand
  3. GMoney
    Jul 20, 2009
    10
    This album is an almost surreal fusion of great music. The Beatles samples don't overpower Jay-Z, they instead give him a rousing echo This album is an almost surreal fusion of great music. The Beatles samples don't overpower Jay-Z, they instead give him a rousing echo that can't be found anywhere else, but the halls of Danger Mouse's studio. Collapse
  4. matta
    Jul 11, 2005
    9
    Incredible. There is only one track in my mind that doesn't really work, the rest is pretty much perfect, overall, better than the Incredible. There is only one track in my mind that doesn't really work, the rest is pretty much perfect, overall, better than the original Black album(but obviously not on par with the White Album). The second best rap offering of the year(just behind madvillainy). Expand
  5. DanManManManMan
    Jun 23, 2007
    8
    Great, though not quite on the level of The Black Album and The White Album on their own.
  6. jams
    Jan 9, 2005
    7
    Very nice, with some so-so cuts. Not as good as the White Album, not as good as the Black Album, but still good enough to warrent Very nice, with some so-so cuts. Not as good as the White Album, not as good as the Black Album, but still good enough to warrent an...ahem...purchase. Expand
  7. [Anonymous]
    Dec 8, 2005
    0
    a piece of garbage. sounds horrible, how could anybody think this is listenable.

See all 32 User Reviews