A Cross The Universe
by Justice
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Dec 9, 2008
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Urb
    90
    Live, this animal bears really bears it's fangs while at the same time increasing the thoughtful and clever sonics and compositional savvy that puts them in a class above most of their peers.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Adhering closely to the template of Daft Punk’s two seminal live albums, crowd noise is mixed high, becoming another instrument as it responds to every hook with a spine-tingling roar.
  3. Billboard
    80
    Hearing a crowd go wild for a kick drum has to do the dance community proud.
  5. PopMatters
    80
    A Cross the Universe is a stunning accompaniment to one of the world’s premier live shows.
  6. Mojo
    80
    Formidable. [Feb 2009, p.109]
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  7. Filter
    76
    Somewhat less emotive than its well received junior, A Cross The Universe jaunts through the subgenre that it is actively creating with each flippant mesh of damn near everything through almost all of its 18 tracks. [Holiday 2008, p.100]
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  8. AllMusic
    70
    Here, the pre-recorded sequences of fan favorites "DVNO," "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy," and "D.A.N.C.E." are born again; flipped and redecorated with aggressive house beats to the point that they feel fresh, but they still retain enough familiarity to get fists pumping and mouths singing along.
  9. Under The Radar
    70
    The recording illustrates the bombastic edge that seperates Justice from their Daft Punk forefathers. [Winter 2009, p.81]
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  10. Pitchfork
    65
    A Cross the Universe isn't close to anyone's definitive idea of what a document of a live Justice show should be, but it's a diverting, sometimes-bizarre look into the first phase of fame for an aughts-era cult pop phenomenon.
  11. NOW Magazine
    60
    The abysmal Justice concert recording is relegated to the audio disc (also hiding evidence of whether or not Gaspard Auge’s MIDI controller is actually plugged in), while the DVD in this package contains the much more engaging behind-the-scenes tour documentary covering 20 days of bleary-eyed debauchery.
  12. cokemachineglow
    55
    This isn’t a bad release, and chances are, if you liked Cross, you could like this just as much. But it’s not going to contain any new revelations, and the extra reverb and applause are not enough to justify the release of a live album.
  13. musicOMH.com
    50
    Newcomers to Justice will find A Cross the Universe only an occasionally endorphin-boosting experience, with most of the rest of the record a polished, if soulless recording of a group nearing the height of its powers.
  14. Spin
    50
    Favoring excessive computer and crowd noise over the pair's concise hooks, the relentlessly bombastic concert CD accompanying the DVD combusts as if it were one 66-minute, fireworks-spewing finale.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Muon
    Jan 29, 2015
    10
    In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
    And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.    In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
    And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
    And God said, Let there be light: and there was "Justice".    … Full Review »
  2. Overchure
    Oct 31, 2010
    10
    If only I was on the audience. If you liked Cross, then this should be in your blood. Every redone song makes me think how they take theirIf only I was on the audience. If you liked Cross, then this should be in your blood. Every redone song makes me think how they take their great original songs and makes them feel fresh and new, like a distant memory. And that bonus documentary is also a nice touch. Damn it Justice, now I'm singing where ever I go. I don't even think it's possible to hum electronica but hey,it's pretty fun.… Full Review »
  3. aukalender
    Jul 11, 2019
    7
    If CROSS was a sentence, this is the exclamation point. Stress Live Version is like being chased by a shark.
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