Music
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best of 2009
Best of 2008
Best of 2007
Best of 2006
Best of 2005
Best of 2004
Best of 2003
Best of 2002
Best of 2001
Best of 2000
Best of the Decade
Upcoming &
Recent Releases
54
3Oh!3
76
Actress
75
Against Me!
56
Christina Aguilera
70
Allo Darlin'
83
Laurie Anderson
87
The Arcade Fire
85
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
77
Olafur Arnalds
73
Autolux
54
Avenged Sevenfold
80
Dierks Bentley
79
Best Coast
90
Big Boi
73
The Black Crowes
xx
Black Label Society
76
Blitzen Trapper
61
Bombay Bicycle Club
77
Tracy Bonham
81
The Books
66
Born Ruffians
63
Buckcherry
85
The Budos Band
67
Bun B
70
The Chemical Brothers
xx
Cowboy Junkies
66
Sheryl Crow
76
Crowded House
61
Taio Cruz
77
Crystal Castles
48
Miley Cyrus
74
Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse
73
Danzig
71
Deer Tick
71
Delphic
74
Delta Spirit
73
Department Of Eagles
68
Devo
82
Dr. John And The Lower 911
77
Drake
xx
Dru Hill
74
The Drums
67
Eli "Paperboy" Reed
78
El-P
63
Eminem
76
Alejandro Escovedo
70
Fat Joe
79
Foals
77
Fol Chen
72
Frazey Ford
72
Francis & The Lights
77
The Futureheads
79
The Gaslight Anthem
62
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
57
Macy Gray
67
Hanson
76
Ed Harcourt
75
Hawthorne Heights
76
HEALTH
70
Here We Go Magic
81
Micah P. Hinson
79
Jesca Hoop
68
Hot Hot Heat
62
How To Destroy Angels
83
I Am Kloot
66
The Infesticons
62
Jewel
69
Jack Johnson
84
Tom Jones
77
Kelis
85
Konono No. 1
59
Korn
56
Cyndi Lauper
66
Light Pollution
82
The Like
59
Lil Jon
77
Los Lobos
68
M.I.A.
53
The Magic Numbers
71
Maps & Atlases
80
Steve Mason
69
Travie McCoy
63
Sarah McLachlan
64
Katie Melua
76
The Melvins
80
Menomena
73
Tift Merritt
49
Bret Michaels
67
Miniature Tigers
67
Kylie Minogue
87
Jason Moran
52
Morcheeba
67
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
71
Mystery Jets
74
Nada Surf
76
Oasis
71
Kele Okereke
61
Ozzy Osbourne
xx
Panda Bear
71
Peggy Sue
70
Pernice Brothers
72
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
54
Liz Phair
55
Plies
56
Mike Posner
83
Pulled Apart By Horses
79
Punch Brothers
92
R.E.M.
70
Ratatat
71
Rhymefest
76
Max Richter
75
Robert Randolph And The Family Band
76
Robyn
46
Rooney
85
The Roots
79
Rick Ross
37
RPA & the United Nations of Sound
69
School of Seven Bells
71
Scissor Sisters
71
Semi Precious Weapons
74
Blake Shelton
69
Sia
73
Sleepy Sun
84
Sleigh Bells
62
Squeeze
69
Stars
79
Steel Train
66
Steve Miller Band
62
Sting
76
Suckers
76
Sun Kil Moon
81
Teenage Fanclub
80
The-Dream
73
Tokyo Police Club
83
Trash Talk
48
Uffie
76
Various Artists
69
Venice Is Sinking
74
Versus
78
Villagers
75
Wavves
67
We Are Scientists
85
Paul Weller
76
Wolf Parade
61
Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Rain On The City
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 4 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Bar None
Release Date: 12 January 2010
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock, Country, Alternative
Summary
The first album of new studio material in nine years for the singer-songwriter was produced by Richard McLaurin.
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Los Angeles Times
Johnston's best songs remind us that every mirror, like every voice, is always in danger of cracking. But that doesn't take anything away from the beauty of our illusions.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Your gratitude for his economical writing may overcome your wonderment over why something so modest took so long.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Rain on the City lacks the consistency of Johnston's masterpiece, "Can You Fly," or its follow-up, "This Perfect World," but unlike the albums that followed, this collection is a beautiful example of Johnston playing to his strengths and reminding us why he's one of the best and most singular American songwriters at work today.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe
Freedy Johnston last released an album of new music in 2001 (he put out an engaging covers collection in 2008), but the years since have yielded a gorgeous pop record.
Read Full Review >Spin
As he has for two decades, singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston plays the unreliable narrator in this exquisitely unsettling folk-rock collection.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Rain is a fetching guitar-pop wonder, a melodic feastm blending vintage Marshall Crenshaw-like hooks with elegant, acoustic scenes-in-miniature. [Mar 2010, p.89]
Billboard.com
Johnston delivers another album of nuanced and evocative tunes laced with vivid imagery and emotional depth.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Here's a welcome return, as the underrated singer/songwriter went eight years between releases of original material. That's far too long for someone of Johnston's skill, but Rain On The City nearly makes up for the gap. [Holiday 2009, p.83]
PopMatters
Overall, Rain on the City splits a workable difference between Johnston’s instinct to slow things down and a toe-tapper now and then.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
It's pretty good. That much anyone aware of Johnston's past highpoints probably could have predicted.
Read Full Review >Prefix Magazine
There’s nothing really wrong with a single one of them. The problem is that fans of Johnston’s music have been here before.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Brian G. gave it a9:
Very solid, enjoyable listen.
Rick V. gave it an8:
I've missed Freedy's songs during the long hiatus between this CD and 2001's "Right Between the Promises." Anyone who thought the delay might mean a shift in style will be disappointed, but they shouldn't be. This one has some tunes that will grab you right away, but most of them need a little time to work their magic. In this respect, the CD is not unlike 1999's "Blue Days Black Nights." Johnston remains a first-rate songwriter and this CD is fine testimony to his enduring strengths. Let's hope the next one comes out in six months.
Brent G. gave it an8:
Freedy is back, sounding very much like Freedy. And we've missed ya.
