Unseen
by The Handsome Family
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Magnet
    Oct 18, 2016
    95
    Another low-key masterpiece wrapped in spooky twanging guitars, heartbroken harmonies, droning tempos and lyrics that often don't rhyme, delivered in Brett Sparks' deadpan, rumbling baritone. [No. 136, p.57]
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  2. Blurt Magazine
    Jan 10, 2017
    80
    Unseen alludes to The Handsome Family’s darker realms, but the beauty it boasts is so unerringly mesmerizing, it begs repeated hearings simply to soak it all in.
  3. Mojo
    Sep 14, 2016
    80
    Dense and dark as always, but with new light seeping through the undergrowth, Unseen is The Handsome Family's masterpiece. [Sep 2016, p.95]
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  5. The Independent (UK)
    Sep 14, 2016
    80
    There’s a pleasing congruence between the way that the surreal invades the ordinary in Rennie Sparks’s lyrics, and the way that Brett Sparks’ voice and music illuminates that invasion.
  6. Uncut
    Sep 14, 2016
    80
    Rennie's lyrics remain full of transfixed wonder, sketching places where ghosts swim in the air and sea kelpies call fro, the shallows, while Brett's lugubrious tones are a perfect conduit for songs like "Gold," "Gentlemen" and state -fair attraction "Tiny Tina," the world's smallest horse. [Oct 2016, p.32]
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  7. PopMatters
    Oct 5, 2016
    70
    These songs slowly reveal loss, surprise and violence, but they take their time getting there, whether across a line or through an entire track.
  8. AllMusic
    Sep 20, 2016
    70
    Unseen may not cheer you up, but it will compel and fascinate anyone with an appetite for great songwriting.
  9. The Line of Best Fit
    Sep 14, 2016
    65
    There’s nothing in the way of a bold step forward on Unseen, which is the wooziest collection of songs they’ve put out in quite a while; this is very much an album for the wee small hours.
  10. musicOMH.com
    Sep 19, 2016
    60
    All things considered, Unseen feels like a missed opportunity for The Handsome Family. It’s by no means a bad album and one established fans will undoubtedly enjoy, but essentially the band are on auto-pilot when it would have been great to hear them go up a gear.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. lenny68
    Dec 8, 2016
    3
    I have to agree with tontonoz. The Handsome Family {Brett and Rennie} seem to have lost interest in what made their music so appealing in theI have to agree with tontonoz. The Handsome Family {Brett and Rennie} seem to have lost interest in what made their music so appealing in the first place. I too love their early/mid phase albums but this is just a mostly tuneless dirge.… Full Review »
  2. tontonnez
    Oct 9, 2016
    5
    Basically, it's more of the same, which in itself is not a bad thing, but precisely because of this, it lacks the magic and inventiveness ofBasically, it's more of the same, which in itself is not a bad thing, but precisely because of this, it lacks the magic and inventiveness of most of what came before it. Listening to the album makes me want to return to their back catalogue (all of which I have) rather than press replay.… Full Review »
  3. Daydreamers
    Sep 27, 2021
    8
    I truly don’t understand the disregard for this record. This is a tight album by a band that has mastered its craft. Does it reach the heightsI truly don’t understand the disregard for this record. This is a tight album by a band that has mastered its craft. Does it reach the heights of, say, Through the Trees? No, not quite. It is, however, the most consistently solid release by this band in a decade at the the point of its release.… Full Review »
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