Hartford Courant's Scores

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For 517 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 36% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.2 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Sound Of Silver
Lowest review score: 20 Carry On
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 398 out of 517
  2. Mixed: 107 out of 517
  3. Negative: 12 out of 517
517 music reviews
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    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Working Man's Cafe
    If the lyrics occasionally seem first-draft rough, the melodies are sharper than on 2005's "Other People's Lives," and the varied musical settings--such as the rockabilly of opener 'Vietnam Cowboys' or the spooky New Orleans blues of 'The Voodoo Walk'--throw into sharper relief the classic Kinksian pop of songs like 'You're Asking Me' and the title track, which show Davies alternately snarling and sighing at the world as winningly as ever.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mockingbird
    A wide-ranging sampler of female compositions on which Moorer mostly provides subtle touches and an abundance of cool presence.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Do You Like Rock Music?
    Opener 'All in It,' a slow-building swell of voices and guitars, sets the tone for album that's unashamed of its epic accessibility.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Free Somehow
    Although Free Somehow doesn't reach the energy level of Widespread Panic's best live performances, with Herring in place, the band has certainly rediscovered its musical roots.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Lucky
    Despite the subtly uplifting message, Lucky lacks the emotional heft of the former.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Watershed
    The collection's mood is occasionally bleak and her penchant for amusing vivacity never rears its head, but the soothing comportment of her introspection makes for pleasant listening in even the darkest of corners.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It Is Time For A Love Revolution
    It's what he does best; his musical past may be pilfered, but at least he treats it well.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Old Growth
    It’s as entertaining and theatrical as the music is rough and compelling.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Vampire Weekend
    It’s ecstatic music, surely; and intense, too, even as it’s joyful.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    In The Future
    Black Mountain pushes its songs further on In the Future, experimenting with druggy synthesizers and shifting musical dynamics on complex arrangements that veer from hazy psychedelia to brutal riffage.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Jukebox
    They’re subtle, but loaded with the laid-bare emotion she spent so long learning to harness.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Brighter Than Creation's Dark
    If Isbell’s departure was the cloud, Brighter Than Creation's Dark is the silver lining.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Oracular Spectacular
    The songs on Oracular Spectacular are considered and carefully constructed, and as a result, they’re taut, hooky and highly danceable, in a hipster-dance-party kind of way.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Liverpool 8
    Starr's songs have an old-friend quality, and their familiarity overshadows their hokier moments.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Growing Pains
    She saves the best for last, though, layering piano, subtle guitar and synthesizers over a steady four-beat rhythm and singing a lilting melody with strong lyrics taking stock of life and love.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    8 Diagrams
    These songs have deep bones, and though they don't always have an in-your-face immediacy, they're worth revisiting.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Big Doe Rehab
    It’s a strong album, but The Big Doe Rehab grows wearying by the end, like pounding Red Bull to stay up all night debating whether there ever were any weapons of mass destruction.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Free At Last
    The star power behind this album--a joint executive co-production between Jay-Z and 50 Cent and featuring Scarface, Rick Ross and Lil' Wayne--leads to the predictable can't-please-everyone mishmash, an appreciable step down from the sampled elegance of the Just Blaze-dominated "Philadelphia Freeway."
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Black And White Album
    The Hives' best tunes are the ones that race pell-mell through churning guitar riffs and pounding drums while singer Almqvist hollers about, well, whatever.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Ire Works
    Ire Works is one of the best metal records released this year, full of brutal math-metal freakouts such as 'Fix Your Face' and 'Nong Eye Gong' and beautifully crafted, more melodic songs, including 'Black Bubblegum' and 'Dead as History.'
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    American Gangster
    Jay-Z sounds much more engaged on American Gangster, a collection of taut, focused songs heavy on musical references to the '70s
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Smoke
    Williams finds himself on the respected electronic label Tigerbeat6, raising expectations even higher. He more than meets them, navigating ably through sugary tracks tempered with a dark streak.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Situation
    Situation actually represents Terfry at his razor-sharp best; it's a disc that should appeal to any fan of good hip-hop, indie or otherwise.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    V Is For Vagina
    It's a record full of deep, freaky grooves.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dirt Farmer
    Helm’s voice is still poignant even if it’s nowhere near as strong as it once was.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Shotter's Nation
    Doherty's second album with Babyshambles, is a fine effort and marked improvement on his first post-Libertines sally, but its explosiveness is held in check by an unfortunate air of self-awareness.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Chrome Dreams II
    With its varied sound and subtle optimism, Chrome Dreams II stands in marked contrast to Young’s more strident recent efforts, but at least he got around to sharing these dreams.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Raising Sand
    The breadth of new realms both singers explore is one of many highlights of a collection that is nothing short of remarkable.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    In The Vines
    Ray Raposa's creepy folk explorations as Castanets remain intimate affairs writ in miniature, despite a backing band with up to seven members and a choir of 10.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Make Sure They See My Face
    He remains a singular performer, one who can't be overwhelmed by the usual Neptunes production. Williams' typically sparse 'Loose Wires' sounds simultaneously like Kenna's surefire smash--how could that Michael Jackson-inspired hook miss?--and the proof, thanks to its android-crooning verses, that the world will only see Kenna's face on his own, refreshingly distinctive, terms.
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