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10.0
131308
10.0 |
DIY
Oliver takes on both past and present realities with a candour that surprises even him
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9.0
131389
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
A celebration of the imperfect, of the times in which we don’t always feel our best; in a world that encourages us to constantly feel our most beautiful, Hideous shows us that our worth is not bound to our physical identities
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8.0
131309
8.0 |
Uncut
The xx duo eagerly depart from the templates that have served their band so well, thereby imparting Hideous Bastard with a spontaneity that complements the courage and candour in the lyrics. Print edition
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8.0
131310
8.0 |
Mojo
Sim's painful journey also feels like catharsis, and packs a vivid statement of musical intent. Print edition
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8.0
131312
8.0 |
Slant Magazine
Musically, Hideous Bastard engages in a dialogue with the past, whether it’s Sim’s youth or the last half century of music and cinema
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8.0
131313
8.0 |
Loud And Quiet
A heartfelt journey towards self-acceptance, told through raw, minimal inversions of the classic pop sounds Bronski Beat pioneered decades ago
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8.0
131314
8.0 |
NME
A powerful record that finds him purging his demons
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8.0
131322
8.0 |
Evening Standard
Away from his Mercury Prize-winning band, Oliver Sim’s own identity comes into focus
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8.0
131365
8.0 |
musicOMH
On The xx vocalist’s solo debut, produced by Jamie xx, it’s comforting to hear that haunted, fragile spectral sound even while the lyrical content surprises
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7.2
131427
7.2 |
Beats Per Minute
Hideous Bastard proves a stirring, uncomfortably honest and ultimately inspiring portrait of Oliver Sim and his internal conflicts
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7.0
131372
7.0 |
PopMatters
The xx’s Oliver Sim goes solo with Hideous Bastard, which deals with deconstruction and learning to surrender to desire as a means of a resurrection
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6.5
131369
6.5 |
Pitchfork
The solo debut from the xx vocalist is a quiet work of personal exploration. Rife with growing pains, it occasionally hints at real beauty
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6.0
131311
6.0 |
The Observer
Though he struggles to match the devastating lead single, Sim reveals new emotional range
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