Your Life Is a Record
by Brandy Clark
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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  1. Variety
    Mar 20, 2020
    92
    Her producer, Joyce, who’s famous for working with Eric Church, knows something about country music outsiders, and together they’ve made a collection that never tries to squeeze into any radio-friendly box, all the better to be a fit and a find for life’s own jukebox, as cultivated listeners happen across it. Here’s a quarter: Brandy Clark definitely cares.
  2. American Songwriter
    Mar 6, 2020
    90
    Even as her world expands, and her style shifts along with it, Brandy Clark keeps her feet grounded in the here and now. Her songwriting is only getting better.
  3. AllMusic
    Mar 6, 2020
    90
    Subtlety is her strength and that skill is still evident in her witty, elegant turns of phrase, but the distinguishing characteristic of Your Life Is a Record is warmth. From its enveloping sound to its empathetic tales, the album feels openhearted and comforting, a sensibility that helps the record seem charmingly out of step with the times.
  5. Q Magazine
    Mar 10, 2020
    80
    Clark had already mastered storytelling; now she's mastered heartbreak. [May 2020, p.103]
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  6. Pitchfork
    Mar 6, 2020
    75
    It’s a break-up album, less focused on wordplay and punchlines than universal truths. And while her songwriting continues to avoid the obvious path, her arrangements decidedly do not. ... The best moments are when Clark fights through the heartbreak to find her own footing again.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Mar 6, 2020
    70
    Leans on her singer-songwriter side. [Mar 2020, p.91]
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  8. Exclaim
    Mar 6, 2020
    70
    If Clark maintains the marquee star promise she shows throughout Your Life Is a Record, swaths of the next generation's songwriters will long for her to cover their tunes, and daydream about following in her footsteps.

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best Album of 2020

User Reviews

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User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. TVequality
    Apr 10, 2021
    0
    Typical country step type of poor people. I can’t for a second believe she is heartbroken or had a break up. There is no emotion in herTypical country step type of poor people. I can’t for a second believe she is heartbroken or had a break up. There is no emotion in her singing. If she was in a breakup, it was caused by her lack of emotion. Long walk and bigger boat throw the album of, neither has to due with break up and the sound doesn’t fit with the rest of the album. Push a break up album, remove long walk, bigger boat and pawn shop. Pawn shop doesn’t come full circle, there is one line in the chorus that suggest maybe there is hope, it is lacking. Who broke whose heart, suggest the person doesn’t want to take responsibility for the pain they caused.. so f*** responsibility. Perhaps if the song writer payed attention and had emotion, this would not be a break up album.… Full Review »
  2. LISOCHIKOTOSA
    Mar 8, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Your life is a record is a beautiful album and i enjoyed it thoroughly. The songs are so personal, so honest and so beautiful. The songwriting is immaculate , its just really good and there is not much else to say after that. The production is very memorable as well. All the songs are so interesting and i really wish more people heard the record. The instrumentation and the lyrics of I'll be the Sad Song are so sad and beautiful. Long Walk is a classic country song about a judgmental person and it oozes so much character. Pawn Shop is another personal favorite of mine about a woman who is pawning her ring , leaving her marriage and going to another city. Its so descriptive and well written. Who You Thought i Was is a moving nostalgic song about wanting to become better for a lover after the relationship is already over. I hope she wins that damn Grammy. Bigger Boat is a very interesting song about being inclusive towards those you disagree with, (i think). Bad Car is yet another sad song about not wanting to let something go because you love it and you have so many memories with it, in this case a car. Who Broke Whose Heart is a beautiful song about trying to get to the bottom of the real reason of the end of a relationship, The lyrics are really great and its so relatable, The last two songs continue with the same theme of picking up the pieces and moving on from a terrible heartbreak. The album is so cohesive , capturing many different aspects of a heartbreak. Its so good… Full Review »
  3. felipebarria
    Apr 22, 2020
    9
    An improvement from her last Album, not as good as the first. I just love how personal this album is
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