-
8.0
10468
8.0 |
Uncut
Print edition only
-
8.0
10531
8.0 |
Q
Drea achieves what he's aiming for: a gritty urban update on 70s socio-political classics by Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. Print edition only
-
8.0
10563
8.0 |
Mojo
As successful as it is ambitious. Print edition only
-
8.0
10985
8.0 |
The Irish Times
The next album? Could be reggae, could be dubstep. For now, though, this Plan B is the best one to stick to
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-
8.0
11030
8.0 |
The Times
One way or another, single by single if necessary, The Defamation of Strickland Banks will come and find you.
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-
8.0
11046
8.0 |
Daily Telegraph
The rapping hasn’t been completely abandoned, either, but the emphasis here is on his sweet soul voice and a thumping Motown groove
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-
8.0
11050
8.0 |
The Sunday Times
Few concept albums stand up to close scrutiny, relying instead on the songs to distract you and cover up the cracks. In this department, Drew excels
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-
8.0
11057
8.0 |
Independent on Sunday
Has followed a record you couldn't bear to hear more than once with a record you'll want to play over and over.
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-
8.0
11838
8.0 |
State
Work through the album and you’ll find pop songs nestling next to foul mouthed rage, shades of rock next to those shades of soul and generally the sound of a young artist reaching for the stars and hitting every single one
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-
8.0
16189
8.0 |
Rave Magazine
A solid effort of condensing an in-depth story into a 50 minute pop album
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-
8.0
24226
8.0 |
Spin
The rare contemporary album that insists on being heard in full, in sequence, until the story ends
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-
8.0
25364
8.0 |
PopMatters
Nu-soul, strong story telling, and the darker side of British culture
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-
7.8
11659
7.8 |
Beats Per Minute
Most certainly a success. The titular character is given weight and emotion through B’s vision and realistic lyrics and immediately draws the listener in
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-
7.0
10467
7.0 |
Clash
Mr. Strickland Banks is a welcome addition to Ben Drew’s beguiling set of alter-egos
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-
6.0
10446
6.0 |
The Digital Fix
Undoubtedly one of the more unusual volte-faces of recent years, Drew's decision to abandon his acoustic for the full suited-and-booted soul review is, for the most part, a success
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-
6.0
10996
6.0 |
The Independent
An interesting diversion, but not much more
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-
6.0
11028
6.0 |
Evening Standard
It's not a transition that you can imagine 50 Cent making, but the east Londoner pulls it off with some aplomb
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-
6.0
10943
6.0 |
NME
Print edition only
-
6.0
11119
6.0 |
The Scotsman
This is a record which clearly seeks to emulate the artist's heroes rather than turn a novelty buck
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-
5.0
25177
5.0 |
Rolling Stone
A grade or two above the norm for British Motown pastiches
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