Under The Skin
by Lindsey Buckingham
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Uncut
    100
    He concocts a series of dazzling interior epics with just a fingerpicked acoustic guitar and his echo-drenched voice. [Nov 2006, p.101]
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  2. The A.V. Club
    91
    His hushed voice and intricate acoustic guitar work fill the space with reflective songs that sound little like anything he's done before.
  3. AllMusic
    90
    It is, thus far, his masterpiece, and as beautiful a pop record as can be made these days.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    It's the spartan-yet-gonzo sound of a guy remembering he can go his own way. [6 Oct 2006, p.70]
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  6. Stylus Magazine
    83
    As beguiling as much of Under the Skin is, these songs would benefit from the Mac’s supple, still-underrated rhythm section.
  7. Slant Magazine
    80
    Under The Skin... washes over you like a summer breeze.
  8. The Guardian
    80
    As spacious as Buckingham's native California yet as fraught with unease, this is another gripping postcard from the edge of paradise.
  9. Mojo
    80
    At times it's spellbinding. [Dec 2006, p.118]
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  10. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    Under the Skin’s tenderly whispered ruminations... are gripping little creations, full of weird acoustic-guitar riffs and uncomfortably intimate vocals and open revelations about the anxiety he feels in trying to reassert his creative identity at this late date.
  11. Amazon.com
    70
    Strange, alluring, and disarming.
  12. Blender
    70
    Gorgeously understated. [Nov 2006, p.138]
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  13. Rolling Stone
    70
    With its skewed pop melodies, home-brewed sonic trickery and blazing fingerpicking, Under the Skin is a mesmerizing return to the side of Buckingham that birthed the proto-indie-pop strangeness of 1979's Tusk.
  14. Q Magazine
    70
    Of the 11 tracks, five are lovely, three are makeweights and an equal number excellent. [Dec 2006, p.133]
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  15. PopMatters
    50
    There’s no denying that he has his own style, but a little more variety in execution might make Under the Skin a more enthralling and thus, listenable experience.
  16. NOW Magazine
    20
    Unfortunately, all the intricately picked little guitar figures don't make his raspy yelping sound any less like a wet cat stuck under a couch.

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Best Album of 2006
83
#83 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 32
  3. Negative: 4 out of 32
  1. MattMckeown
    Jul 26, 2023
    10
    Absolute genius, especially on ‘Shut Us Down’ and ‘Cast Away Dreams’.
  2. baron
    Mar 15, 2007
    10
    The cover of "I am waiting" is possibly teh best cover version i've heard. And the rest of the tracks are excellent too. The man is a genius.
  3. jonathan
    Jan 29, 2007
    7
    The songs are very good, but I feel that it was a bad choice to have not re-recorded most of the songs. Most of the album was done at home by The songs are very good, but I feel that it was a bad choice to have not re-recorded most of the songs. Most of the album was done at home by Buckingham on a digital recorder except for 2 songs. The 2 songs recorded in the real studio with Rob Cavallo sound much more fully realized than the rest of the album. The title track is a beautiful song but the click track running through the whole song ruins it for me and drives me nuts!… Full Review »
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