The Less You Know, The Better
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The Less You Know, The Better Image
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62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

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  • Summary: The fourth studio album for the hip hop producer/electronic artist features guest appearances by Afrikan Boy, Posdnuos, Talib Kweli, Tom Vek, and Yukimi Nagano of Little Dragons.
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Top Track

Scale It Back
I swear I solve your life, my feet fall over you inside And I thought I heard someone say, "Fly far away" And when you reach up, the sky — I... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Filter
    Oct 14, 2011
    84
    [It] transcends sonic genres with a mature exploration of a global village too distracted to notice it's shorting itself.
  2. The Telegraph (UK)
    Sep 26, 2011
    80
    A guest spot for Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano adds spice to this unexpected feast.
  3. Rolling Stone
    Oct 17, 2011
    70
    While this album may lack his debut's soul-jazz seamlessness, it compensates with bipolar freakiness.
  4. Spin
    Sep 26, 2011
    60
    The Less You Know, the Better 
is equal parts frustrating and admirable.
  5. The Guardian
    Sep 30, 2011
    60
    It's a hit-and-miss affair.
  6. Consequence
    Oct 3, 2011
    50
    For an artist who lets as much time pass between albums as DJ Shadow does, his ideas shouldn't feel as undercooked as they do here.
  7. NOW Magazine
    Oct 20, 2011
    40
    His newest album, on the other hand, is all technique and no emotion.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. stef27
    Dec 3, 2011
    9
    For me The Less You Know The Better is one of the best album of 2011. Every song of the album are great specially Back to front..Stay theFor me The Less You Know The Better is one of the best album of 2011. Every song of the album are great specially Back to front..Stay the course...Sad and Lonely (very special a melancholic piano with the vintage female voice) and awesome I Gotta Rock...Scale it back with Little Dragon what a great song and very different ...Circular Logic!! Another great album by the greatest Dj Shadow!!!… Expand
  2. bears
    Oct 4, 2011
    9
    What I love about Dj Shadow is that he acknowledges what's great in today's music while adding the innovation and experience he brings throughWhat I love about Dj Shadow is that he acknowledges what's great in today's music while adding the innovation and experience he brings through his artistry. 'The Less You Know.." may take a few listens to truly appreciate it's brilliance and diversity. It's an emotional, atmospheric, relevant and on many tracks stays true to the Shadow most of his fans know. No, it isn't the 'Endtroducing' in any sense, so those looking for the classic's rebirth need look elsewhere. If you are in fact looking for something fresh and insightful that displays some of his best musicality to date, you owe it to yourself to buy it now. I'm so very happy that music like this still exists in the current tapestry of top 40 monotony.… Expand
  4. MooziikMaster
    Oct 9, 2011
    7
    Agreeing with critics to some point, this is no Entroducing (we all know that). It isn't even The Private Press. What it is better than is TheAgreeing with critics to some point, this is no Entroducing (we all know that). It isn't even The Private Press. What it is better than is The Outsider (his 2006 album). He has gone back to what he is known for, but he hasn't done it the same way as before. This album includes a lot more different styles of music involved which is good for some songs. The only songs, however, that are like his old stuff and are the best are "I Gotta Rokk" and "Circular Logic (Front To Back)". This is worth it if you are a hardcore Shadow fan. If not, try the first two albums.… Expand
  5. MikeColina
    Jun 1, 2012
    5
    The patented blueprint is there, the form... doesn´t. A record that compensates the collection: 2 great initial, 2 unfulfillingThe patented blueprint is there, the form... doesn´t. A record that compensates the collection: 2 great initial, 2 unfulfilling last. Plain, generic beats, that maybe ´cause of the expensive cost for clearance sampling, pushed Josh to use nowadays souless tools. Only 1 of the 16 songs made me put extra attention thinkin this was the one for us that listened to him from the beginning, but nothing interesting happened at last. I hope the next will fullfill my need of memorable, epical, provocative songs that made a Dj Shadow album worth of remembering. To try: "I Gotta Rokk" , "Redeemed"… Expand

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