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CRITIC REVIEWS
90
It reflects the most fertile period of his early development. Like its predecessor, this is a friendly record marked by his increasing skill as a pop songwriter and his increasingly comfortable singing.
88
There's a moment of absolute magic on the album, and it's when Johnston sings, voice cracking, trying to convince himself as much as his imaginary interlocuters, "there is a heaven and there's a star for you". Childish wish-fulfillment? maybe. but, crucially: I believe him.
A dark depressing road to travel on. Hi, How are You is Lofi done tastefully, but I don’t see a place for it In my life right now
Amazing moments for sure.
Hi, How Are You? is one of the most accurate descriptions of depression ive ever seen. Not just in music, either. but this album feels like... more than music, in some way. You do not listen this thing with your ears, you listen it with your weakest points. You listen it with your traumas, your struggles, your soul. The lo-fi recording fits so well to everything else on the album. Specially in "Desperate Man Blues" , which i think is the best song on the album along with Poor You, the ... read more
When I first heard the Shaggs I became super interested in what was called "Outsider Music." Music that is beyond the bounds of mainstream music, and often with no creative control put in place. I immediately went looking for more outsider music and found Daniel Johnston.
Even the best album in the world have some layer of creative polish to them. Whether it be a label, post recording changes, or even just mimicking popular styles. Not Daniel. Daniel's music sounds like someone ... read more
This album feels very real and Daniel Johnston is one of the most natural sounding artist I've ever heard
11/10
My Favorite Tracks: Poor You, Big Business Monkey, Walking The Cow, Despair Came Knocking, I'll Never Marry, Get Yourself Together, Running Water, Desperate Man Blues, Hey Joe, Keep Punching Joe, No More Pushing Joe Around
My Least Favorite Tracks: no.
This was one of the most personal things I have ever listened to. While the music itself lacks any sort of proper structure I can’t even let that put this album down because if anything it just makes it feel like it was a way for someone deeply troubled to have a creative outlet. I also cried a little.
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Track List
| 1 | Poor You 2:05 | 90 |
| 2 | Big Business Monkey 2:04 | 89 |
| 3 | Walking the Cow 3:37 | 95 |
| 4 | I Picture Myself With a Guitar 0:46 | 79 |
| 5 | Despair Came Knocking 2:47 | 92 |
| 6 | I Am a Baby (in My Universe) 1:40 | 85 |
| 7 | Nervous Love 0:20 | 82 |
| 8 | I'll Never Marry 0:23 | 81 |
| 9 | Get Yourself Together 0:31 | 82 |
| 10 | Running Water 1:34 | 84 |
| 11 | Desperate Man Blues 3:42 | 96 |
| 12 | Hey Joe 2:46 | 97 |
| 13 | She Called Pest Control 0:55 | 79 |
| 14 | Keep Punching Joe 3:13 | 91 |
| 15 | No More Pushing Joe Around 4:42 | 92 |
Total Length: 31 minutes
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2mo
Happy 40th to this tragic masterpiece. Sincerely hope that Johnston is at peace wherever he may be now.
Added on: June 30, 2014