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9.0
58609
9.0 |
The 405
In a generation crying out for real, genuine music idols, Beal has begun staking his claim as to why he could well be one of the very last contenders
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8.0
58614
8.0 |
NME
A bold, beautiful and uncompromising album
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8.0
58632
8.0 |
musicOMH
It’s immediately obvious why Beal’s voice would have pricked the ears of Simon Cowell and company. It’s a marvellous thing, able to alternate between a modest whisper and a full-throttled howl, often within the same song
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8.0
58605
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
With Nobody Knows Willis Earl Beal has rescued soul from the depths of the X Factor's Motown week
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8.0
58606
8.0 |
Time Out
It’s as a vehicle for Beal’s exceptional talent, in fact, that Nobody Knows is a brilliant creation
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8.0
58607
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
A spooky foray into the most terrifying facets of life and love, told through Beal’s honest, no-holds-barred post-blues
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8.0
58704
8.0 |
The Digital Fix
This is an album as genuinely fascinating as Beals’ own story
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8.0
58709
8.0 |
Loud And Quiet
Beal has delivered on his promise with his second record
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8.0
58714
8.0 |
All Music
It's hard to tell if the album feels angrier and grittier than its predecessor, or if peeling off the layers of lo-fidelity actually reveal an artist more raw and without rules than we first perceived
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8.0
59440
8.0 |
State
The darkness of the subject and tone is uncompromising but there is a range to Beal’s song writing
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8.0
60276
8.0 |
Mojo
A masterful song cycle. Print edition only
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7.5
58741
7.5 |
Under The Radar
Beal's artistic flowering on display here demands serious consideration beyond that of a fringe figure with an unconventional back story
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7.5
58748
7.5 |
Pretty Much Amazing
Although Beal has demystified his sound, the notion that Nobody Knows is more a passing sight than a rest stop is pretty unshakeable
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7.2
58736
7.2 |
Pitchfork
Beal sounds like a traditionalist more interested in moving ideas around than expanding on them
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7.0
58817
7.0 |
No Ripcord
There’s no denying that the elements that make up Nobody knows. are profoundly captivating ... But as refined as these elements are, they still don’t quite add up to make the excellent record that many of us are still waiting for Beal to finally make
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7.0
58726
7.0 |
Spin
At its best, Nobody reveals Beal as an old soul deploying the genre of old soul, not so much as an exercise in nostalgia as a surge protector to best contain his electroshock persona
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7.0
58608
7.0 |
DIY
Consistent it may not be, but during its finest moments 'Nobody Knows' is unequivocal proof that Beal's artistry is more than capable of surpassing his legend
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7.0
58651
7.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Feels more like a second debut than a true sophomore outing, one that sets out to prove to Acousmatic skepticists that there’s more to Beal’s gift than injecting his soul-scoured words into rudimentarily structured songs and beats
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7.0
58684
7.0 |
Uncut
Soulman bolsters mystique with songwriting substance. Print edition only
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6.0
58615
6.0 |
Q
Too often, Beal has ideas that he doesn't know how to finish. Print edition only
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6.0
58729
6.0 |
Paste Magazine
Beal’s lack of stylistic allegiance remains intact on his latest release
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