NOW Magazine's Scores

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For 2,812 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 43% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 55% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 6.9 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 The Life Of Pablo
Lowest review score: 20 Testify
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,287 out of 2812
  2. Mixed: 1,452 out of 2812
  3. Negative: 73 out of 2812
2812 music reviews
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    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Universes
    Universes builds on that vibe [of a late-night P.A. set] with exuberant bangers full of snappy, discofied drums, repetitive phrases and dusty funk that could fit nicely into a DJ set of classic Philly soul re-edits or slickly produced tracks from the current UK garage revival.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bahdeni Nami
    The crisp production makes this more accessible to newbies, but it’s definitely still a Souleyman album, successfully capturing the raw, unbridled energy that’s fuelled his jump from the wedding party circuit to indie rock festivals.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Magnifique
    Songs are summery and bright, a more apt soundtrack to a road trip across Prince Edward County than to a night at an underground club.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    DS2
    In lieu of artistry or any semblance of lyrical spark, DST offers monotonous production and relentless chanting.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars
    It’s also the best Wilco album in a minute, and that’s largely due to its leanness (the run time is just over 30 minutes) and masterfully arranged pop tunes.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Adrian Younge Presents: Twelve Reasons to Die II
    What it lacks is an interesting emotional--and thus truly cinematic--dimension.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hospital Handshakes
    A perfect balancing act.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Pattern of Excel
    The 15 songs are relatively short by ambient standards, which makes the album feel like a collection of sketches.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Currents
    The whole thing has a beautiful and unexpected tenderness to it.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Something More Than Free
    A couple of songs, like How To Forget, are well written but not quite interesting enough musically. Still, this album proves that Isbell is still one of the best songwriters in his genre.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Everything Is a Mess
    The band makes focused noise with pop undertones, and their new record is undeniably grand.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    White Reaper Does It Again
    Diversifying is a good plan, seeing as this kind of thrashy, mid-fi guitar pop can all melt together. Thankfully, the sugary keyboards and furious, to-the-point guitar solos (and guitarmonies!) cause most of the songs to shred in their own special way.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Nina Revisited: A Tribute to Nina Simone
    Whether Hill's singing or rapping, the fearlessness and tempestuous drama in her voice are palpable--and matched by equally raw accompaniment that makes many of the other cuts sound a little too clean by comparison.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    No Life For Me
    There's much at play here--personalities, loud/soft dynamics, noise vs melody--and Williams and Baldi strike just the right balance.
    • 100 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Sticky Fingers [Deluxe Edition]
    The revelatory stuff is contextual.... One of the greatest rock records ever.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ghost Notes
    Gordon and Post haven't missed a beat. In fact, they might be better than ever.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Morning/Evening
    The transitions throughout that first track aren't as seamless as you'd expect from Hebden, but they're also what keeps the music from slipping into the background.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    On Blonde
    Too bad the most inspired songs are all stacked together on the first half; the record loses steam halfway through.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Last of Our Kind
    Their fourth, Last Of Our Kind, includes some formulaic hard rock, Cheap Trick and Starship apery and flat-out misses. But it has its moments, to be sure.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Still
    Always good for a spirited rock song, he infuses Patty Don't You Put Me Down with narrative wit and charge that recalls contemporary Bob Dylan. We're all lucky that Thompson is on fire these days.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Feels Like
    They've reused almost every song from their EP. But that's forgivable when the band manages a knockout with almost every punch.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Summertime '06
    Like so much of his work, Staples lures us in with stylized storytelling and production (here, primarily overseen by No I.D.) but then hits hard with a jarring line like "They found another dead body in the alley."
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Highlights
    There's nothing especially memorable on offer, and a lyrical artlessness becomes obvious as the album continues.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Déjà-Vu
    The aggressive push into overblown choruses drowns the warmth and personality of his production work.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Coming Home
    All the emphasis on getting the realness down doesn't distract from Bridges's butter-smooth vocals and inventive phrasing. Instead, the understated arrangements allow us to really hear his voice, unadorned by excessive studio shaping.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Monsanto Years
    For an undisguised, heavy-handed topical Neil Young record, The Monsanto Years is actually engaging and mostly effective.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wildheart
    His third--and best--album moves farther away from beat-oriented R&B toward music that's heavy guitars, sex and hazy Cali vibes.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Pageant Material
    She sounds older and smarter, but a bit unsure of which way to take that experience.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Primrose Green
    Instrumentally, Primrose Green is an engaging listen, but Walker the singer only comes through a few times.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lantern
    The problem is that Birchard spreads himself so thin in his rush to tick off all the stylistic boxes, some songs sputter into half-realized cliché.
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