Let's Fly a Kite
by Eleni Mandell
  • Record Label: Yep Roc
  • Release Date: Jan 28, 2014
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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
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  1. Custom_Concerns
    Feb 7, 2014
    7
    Let's Fly a Kite is bright, happy jazzy-influenced folk pop straight outta 50+ years ago. There are stumbles in consistency of the songwriting, but the energetic, varied musical performances and Mandell's romantic vocals and lyrics make this an album that, for me, never gets stale or boring. The production here is spot on as well - its Joe Chiccareli (The Strokes, The White Stripes) and heLet's Fly a Kite is bright, happy jazzy-influenced folk pop straight outta 50+ years ago. There are stumbles in consistency of the songwriting, but the energetic, varied musical performances and Mandell's romantic vocals and lyrics make this an album that, for me, never gets stale or boring. The production here is spot on as well - its Joe Chiccareli (The Strokes, The White Stripes) and he proves himself great at producing that endearing, minimally affected sound I've grown fond of in a time when producers seem to think that a song isn't good if it doesn't have enough reverb or haze. I'm going to give this album a 75/100 because of the drop in quality near the middle and because, while I enjoy it greatly, most of the songwriting is nothing you haven't heard before. Not exactly original, but very refreshing.

    75/100

    Track Picks: Put My Baby to Bed, Little Joy, Cool Water    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Q Magazine
    Apr 23, 2014
    60
    If there's a touch too much retrospective pastiche, there's also wit and mellifluousness. [May 2014, p.115]
  2. Uncut
    Feb 3, 2014
    80
    {The album] bears many of the assured and lyrically deft hallmarks of Basher's own work. [Mar 2014, p.79]
  3. AllMusic
    Feb 3, 2014
    80
    There is an overall sense of it being the right album at the right time for Mandell which is something that doesn't happen very often in an artist's career.
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