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Alegranza Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: The first album released in the US for the Barcelona, Spain-based artist.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. It's Buenos Aires' Gaby Kerpel without irony, maybe even Barcelona's Manu Chao without hooks -- ecstatic yes, escapist no.
  2. Whatever El Guincho's debt to Panda Bear, the decision to keep Alegranza! in the mama tongue lends it a genuine other-wordliness unlikely to be found in the well-traversed topography of American music.
  3. It's the sort of release that will drive some listeners completely nuts simply because of the construction techniques, but it also powers forward with such a giddy energy that it's hard not to get wrapped up in it.
  4. Blender
    80
    El Guincho has only himself to get along with, but you'd never know it just listening to his album. [Dec 08/Jan 09, p.78]
  5. Under The Radar
    80
    Alegranza! is full of those bewildering moments, and they never seem jarring, thanks to Diaz-Rieixa's deft sense of timing and rhythm. [Fall 2008, p.80]
  6. It’s hard to know what to make of such attention to individual moments in an album so devoted to the overall spectacle; it’s harder because those privileged moments are spread so sparsely throughout.
  7. Q Magazine
    60
    Akin to Manu Chao backed by The Go Team!, fortunately it's no one-off. [Nov 2008, p.117]

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Nov 3, 2010
    10
    An amazing, amazing gem. Even if you don't understand Spanish you will be able to vibe out to this music. The rhythms are enough to make youAn amazing, amazing gem. Even if you don't understand Spanish you will be able to vibe out to this music. The rhythms are enough to make you enjoy this music. I love that it reminds me a bit of animal collective but this is much different in his own way and that makes this album unique and great but still familiar. Expand