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Holiday Destination Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: The third full-length release for the British singer-songwriter was produced with Ben Hillier.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Aug 25, 2017
    85
    Holiday Destination is musically rich, but its greatest triumph is its concord of convenience and intellect.
  2. Aug 25, 2017
    83
    On her third LP, Shah displays the patience to let an idea stew. And she’s not moving on until she’s sufficiently chewed it over, swished it around her mouth, and dragged her tongue across her front teeth.
  3. Aug 24, 2017
    80
    She’s not yet gone for the poppier approach to take her messages more mainstream, but few current artists make music with such a simmering edge.
  4. Mojo
    Aug 21, 2017
    80
    Holiday Destination needs to be uncomfortable and it is, a beautifully realised disturbance of any remaining peace. [Sep 2017, p.92]
  5. Aug 24, 2017
    80
    While Shah’s tunes are so enjoyable to listen to, that unsettling harmonic twang continues to add a feverish subsidy to her soulful voice, a reminder of the uneasiness of the subject matter.
  6. Sep 25, 2017
    80
    Holiday Destination is Shah’s third LP, and is her most accomplished effort to date--superbly executed with an ability to make an austere backdrop insatiably compelling.
  7. Q Magazine
    Aug 29, 2017
    60
    Shah isn't doing anything especially new here, but she is blending 2017's concerns, with unalloyed fury and genuine musical craft. [Oct 2017, p.108]

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Apr 10, 2018
    8
    In an interview towards the end of 2017 Bono spoke of how rock has become a bit girly. Like most times he opens his mouth, he got lots ofIn an interview towards the end of 2017 Bono spoke of how rock has become a bit girly. Like most times he opens his mouth, he got lots of stick for it. To be fair, anyone who read the full interview he made some valid points about channels of male expression in modern music but to get back to girly rock, Nadine Shaw released what for me was the ballsiest rock album of 2017. Bono probably hadn't heard of it but I'm sure the irony wouldn't have been lost on him. "Holiday Destination" has it all. When the giants of rock played it safe in 2017, Nadine Shah released a politically charged album build around real, unforced songs. I wouldn't call this record raw as it has an incredibly full sound but the production embellishments are minimal. I've not seen the artist live but I would imagine the record could be reproduced live if all the musicians were in place. It might take a few listens but worth the effort. Well worth checking out. Expand