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10.0
45025
10.0 |
The Independent
It's as if the accumulated wisdom and compassion of a lifetime has been condensed into a dozen beautiful, heartwrenching songs
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10.0
45103
10.0 |
Daily Telegraph
These are strange, beautiful songs of life and death, a collection dense with both contemporary urgency and timeless wisdom, as close to a late masterpiece as you could hope to hear from a veteran singer-songwriter
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10.0
45033
10.0 |
Mojo
Bill Fay's first album in 41 years is astonishing. Print edition only
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10.0
45614
10.0 |
God Is In The TV
Whilst unbearably sad in parts, the sheer quality and beauty on this album is strangely life-affirming
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9.5
45036
9.5 |
BBC
Life Is People represents the return of a prodigal son you never knew existed. Its religious symbolism is inspired by Fay’s own relationship with faith, the result a stunning, profound, moving and soulful record
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9.0
45107
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
The album is essentially a superb affirmation of the dignity of the human spirit, with the power of Fay’s writing carrying it gloriously across its extraordinary field of vision
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9.0
45032
9.0 |
Uncut
As great as the arrangements are, the most devastating performances come from Fay on his lonesome
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8.5
45024
8.5 |
Bowlegs
Fay here recounts what is valuable in life, what remains with you as you get old and what seeps away. It’s one of those perspective notes, final maybe, and that gets our attention
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8.0
45030
8.0 |
Q
The staggering return of a great lost cult artist. Print edition only
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8.0
45123
8.0 |
The Irish Times
To paraphrase the closing song, Life Is People is a cosmic concerto to stir the soul
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8.0
45168
8.0 |
Evening Standard
A beautifully-crafted work of affirmative world-weariness
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8.0
45231
8.0 |
All Music
Life Is People brims with compassion, vulnerability, and tenderness. It is not a comeback record but a late continuation and a great work of art
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8.0
45258
8.0 |
Pitchfork
Pointed and urgent but never pushy, Fay's songs offer pleas for redemption in a world drunk on its promise, coupled with a reassuring contentment for simply having lived this life
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8.0
45271
8.0 |
musicOMH
Fay consistently finds beauty in the world and is not afraid to express such sentiments. There are also moments of very real sadness - but a hard-won wisdom and acceptance cuts through
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8.0
45286
8.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
It seems like time has finally caught up with Fay, or rather, that time is ready to start regretting its negligence. He’s in our sight lines now, and hopefully he’ll stay there a while longer
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8.0
45465
8.0 |
The Scotsman
The songwriting is old school, and the thoughtful lyrics rather hippyish in sentiment but Life Is People is a beautifully and sensitively orchestrated work
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8.0
49533
8.0 |
No Ripcord
You need a little Bill Fay in your life. It’ll teach you a lesson about loss, redemption, all that shit
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7.0
45197
7.0 |
DIY
As stirring as some of the material is, there are a number of tracks where the weighty lyrical themes are coupled with languid and ponderous melodies which drag the pace right down to a deathly crawl
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7.0
46670
7.0 |
PopMatters
Although Fay’s fan base is likely to remain meager, those who Life is People touches are unlikely to hear a more inspiring album this year
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6.5
45132
6.5 |
Prefix
Life is People, may not be the best Bill Fay, but hearing this there is no doubt about one thing: it's great to have him back. And hopefully this record is just the start of that return
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6.0
45391
6.0 |
The Guardian
It's not without a few syrupy moments, and it would be a push to recommend it over the old records, but there are some fine songs here
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6.0
45182
6.0 |
The Observer
These songs work a gentle charm, reflecting on life and mortality with an unhurried grace
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