Warzone
by Yoko Ono
User Score
4.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 10 out of 22
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  1. DonnaSummer
    May 29, 2019
    10
    Creatively recreated her past works and is still as great as ever. Her voice sounds great for her age and it is a great nostalgia filled album and her cover of imagine is hauntingly beautiful
  2. juanmanueltorov
    Oct 22, 2018
    10
    just because I want to give it a 10, and you cannot do anything about it...
  3. Pdfortune
    Oct 19, 2018
    0
    Once again another unbearable Yoko Ono album. She has been milking John Lennon for years. I listened once, and that was more than enough. I’m fine with experimental music as long as it is good, and this isn’t good.
  4. gimmedatsammich
    Oct 23, 2018
    0
    The greatest bumper sticker ever printed out and slapped on the back of a car is actually a bumper sticker I personally have never seen. But my dad did, at least once, and it always makes me laugh and brings me a certain amount of joy when I think about it. The bumper sticker reads: "Still Pissed At Yoko." Alas, it seems this very concise but utterly perfect little statement was more of aThe greatest bumper sticker ever printed out and slapped on the back of a car is actually a bumper sticker I personally have never seen. But my dad did, at least once, and it always makes me laugh and brings me a certain amount of joy when I think about it. The bumper sticker reads: "Still Pissed At Yoko." Alas, it seems this very concise but utterly perfect little statement was more of a 70's and 80's thing, if it was ever widespread at all.

    The fact that Yoko has the gall to release this collection is more than enough reason to "still be pissed" at her. I actually did listen to "Warzone," believe it or not. Or rather, I tried to listen to it, but I could not finish it due to my fear that my ears would soon begin bleeding. Even someone who doesn't despise Yoko Ono would find this audio experience tough going in the extreme. Is there anyone on this planet less qualified to record their voice in a musical context? If you can even call her releases "music"? You know, I would accept her "art" as genuine music if she just agreed to never, ever record her voice along with her muzak. Yes, I meant to write "muzak." Because her instrumental compositions, disregarding the ambient recordings of blatantly non musical and unpleasant things like the sounds of gunfire in the title track, are only fit for the bland but unoffensive background soundtracks of elevators, certain bathrooms, and gigantic department stores.

    However, add in her dying/in the process of being tortured feline screech of a "singing" voice, and her muzak becomes totally unlistenable. You may have heard jokes about Yoko's music and singing over the years, but if you've never actually given her drivel a listen, please do so. You will be amazed that someone thought this garbage was fit for commercial release. Remember that guy on American Idol years back who was the national laughing stock for a few weeks–William Hung, I think his name was? Remember how incredibly and comically awful a singer he was? People still laugh at that guy. Yoko Ono is ten times worse than Hung, but in certain circles, she is actually somewhat or outright respected, and I'm sure some nutcases out there buy the idea that she's actually a misunderstood genius. She's not. She's a total idiot who got insanely lucky and who has been shamelessly riding the gravy train that John Lennon got her a permanent seat on in the 1960's.    … Expand
  5. joshdkaye
    Oct 21, 2018
    1
    What fresh hell is this? I had to shower after I listened to it, and I STILL feel dirty. I feel sad and confused. Why does this have an average score of 70? Why is she still making music? No. No. No.
  6. iamkakaindecent
    Oct 20, 2018
    5
    For God's sake, I'm ashamed of a green note for that. I'm too devastated...
  7. NonLPtrack
    Oct 25, 2018
    6
    The new arrangements are quite good, but Yoko's voice is no longer the powerful and expressive instrument it once was. Her speak-singing here often sounds tentative or rushed. Sadly, age seems to have caught up with Yoko. Best tracks: Hell in Paradise, Now or Never, Imagine.
  8. AmericanSkins
    Aug 20, 2023
    10
    A masterpiece from one of the most innovative, creative and interesting artists to ever grace the earth with her genius. These songs, selected from her back catalogue, have been reconstructed and re-recorded by Yoko and producer Thomas Bartlett and serve as a reminder that Yoko’s message is timeless and relevant now more than ever, in addition to highlighting her beautiful talent for lyricA masterpiece from one of the most innovative, creative and interesting artists to ever grace the earth with her genius. These songs, selected from her back catalogue, have been reconstructed and re-recorded by Yoko and producer Thomas Bartlett and serve as a reminder that Yoko’s message is timeless and relevant now more than ever, in addition to highlighting her beautiful talent for lyric and idiosyncratic melody writing. This may be Yoko’s final album and if it is, it is as impactful and career defining as any swan song has been.… Expand
  9. Lajaleaa
    Dec 27, 2018
    7
    ( 75/100 )

    Para Yoko Ono,"Warzone" es una pequeña colección de canciones realizadas en su trayectoria re-interpretadas e intenciones que ha guardado durante algún tiempo. La vida de Ono es espectacular, trágica e increíble. No me extenderé, pero desde Tokyo, las guerras, los conflictos sociales, hasta migrar a United States, San Francisco, su formación musical y su relación con John    ( 75/100 )

    Para Yoko Ono,"Warzone" es una pequeña colección de canciones realizadas en su trayectoria re-interpretadas e intenciones que ha guardado durante algún tiempo. La vida de Ono es espectacular, trágica e increíble. No me extenderé, pero desde Tokyo, las guerras, los conflictos sociales, hasta migrar a United States, San Francisco, su formación musical y su relación con John Lennon ha mantenido un perfil muy especial. Su carrera musical se funda gracias a su participación en varios proyectos. Sí, tiene álbumes y hace colaboraciones, pero la formalidad de su trayectoria está, más que nada en la temática de cada presentación. Y en "Warzone" la temática presenta la apocalíptica sensación que tiene del presente. En ese conjunto de tracks, crea una dimensión tanto digital como análoga, experimental y estructural, un lugar agobiante y un lugar tranquilizante. El propósito del álbum demostrar que existe un tormento enorme en la sociedad, pero también busca un camino directo a dar un mensaje asertivo y positivo. Su música canta "¡Miren la miseria de nuestra existencia! Apiedense de ustedes mismos. No contagien dolor, compartan sonrisas." Y lo logra con versos que empoderan a las mujeres y a los niños. Versos delicados sobre el valor mismo, respeto a los demás y al planeta y no dejarse llevar por el agobio de crecer. Los versos que no son de profundidad admirable, sino directos y claros, necesarios y sin redundancia. La sensibilidad en esa directriz está en la voz de Ono. Grita, sufre, llora, y repite tantas veces sea necesarias una sola línea, para apelar a la humanidad física de la gente. Su acento solo lo hace más humano, porque demuestra su esfuerzo de presentar una voz pura con un mensaje global. Y entre la guerra digital y el piano ambiental, presenta un álbum decente, lleno de buenas intenciones, ese tipo de intenciones de las cuales no puede vivir la gente, pero sí la fortalece.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Under The Radar
    Nov 29, 2018
    65
    While some may not see these recordings displacing the originals as their go-to version, "I Love All of Me" is an example of Ono's new take being a compelling update.
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  2. musicOMH.com
    Oct 24, 2018
    60
    If by representing these protest songs Ono intended to convey how little has changed since she first recorded them in the spirit of social activism then she has succeeded, but Warzone also highlights how the conversation has evolved.
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  3. Pitchfork
    Oct 23, 2018
    63
    Because its overt politics now feel so inadequate, Warzone works best as a melancholy gesture, a long look back at a time when dreaming of a better world felt invigorating rather than exhausting.
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