Currency of Man

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the release received an average score of 78, based on six critical reviews, indicating "Generally favourable reviews". Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a 7.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Cristopher Loudon of JazzTimes stated, "...Gardot’s distinctively airy voice has undergone significant transformation, and is now muscular and freshly imbued with a deeply resonant soulfulness. Klein responds with meaty, potent arrangements-electrified, with plenty of horns and even a gospel choir-that both complement and elevate this new sound. And though Gardot has, since her late-aughts breakthrough, proven a formidable songwriter, Currency of Man‘s 10 compositions evince heightened power and authority, elevating her to the plateau of Leonard Cohen and Klein’s ex, Joni Mitchell, with shades of Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan."{{cite web |last=Loudon |first=Christopher |title=Melody Gardot: Currency of Man |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/melody-gardot-currency-of-man/ |website=JazzTimes |accessdate=20 November 2020 |date=17 June 2015}} David McGee of The Absolute Sound noted, "Currency of Man employs still more sound collages while deploying horns and strings in spare, small jazz combo atmospheres to frame Gardot’s seductive vocals that speak of societal ills in evocative, poetic terms." Thom Jurek of AllMusic stated, "Vocally, Gardot is stronger than ever here, her instrument is bigger and fuller yet it retains that spectral smokiness that is her trademark. Currency of Man is a further step away from the lithe, winsome pop-jazz that garnered her notice initially, and it's a welcome one."

Mattew Wright of The Arts Desk commented, "There’s something for everyone, at least. You could play the album at a family event and everyone would like at least one song. Gardot seems to have the voice to say something worthwhile, but in order to make it work, she needs to put away the toys and sing from the heart." The Guardian review by Kate Hutchinson added, "On her last album she explored world music; on Currency of Man, she’s gone "conscious". It’s not quite Erykah Badu, but when you’re a Grammy-winning easy-listening artist, it’s an admirable direction." Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter noted, "Don’t let the jazz reference deter you from this tour de force of original tunes, all penned by Gardot. It’s a perfect combination of restrained vocal phrasing with madly creative production and a certain candidate for one of the finest albums of the year."

{{Track listing

| total_length = 48:52

| all_writing = Melody Gardot, except where noted

| title1 = It Gonna Come

| length1 = 5:26

| title2 = Preacherman

| writer2 = Gardot, Chuck Staab

| length2 = 4:31

| title3 = Morning Sun (For Ezra Richardson)

| length3 = 5:06

| title4 = Same to You

| length4 = 4:59

| title5 = Don't Misunderstand

| writer5 = Gardot, Jesse Harris

| length5 = 4:15

| title6 = Don't Talk

| length6 = 4:17

| title7 = If Ever I Recall Your Face

| length7 = 6:52

| title8 = Bad News

| length8 = 4:38

| title9 = She Don't Know

| length9 = 3:59

| title10 = Once I Was Loved

| length10 = 4:49

}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 68:18

| headline = The Artist's Cut Edition{{cite web |title=Currency of Man (The Artist's Cut) by Melody Gardot |url=https://music.apple.com/tr/album/currency-of-man-the-artists-cut/1440986345 |publisher=music.apple.com |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=en-gb}}

| title1 = Don't Misunderstand

| writer1 = Gardot, Jesse Harris

| length1 = 4:40

| title2 = Don't Talk

| length2 = 4:11

| title3 = It Gonna Come

| length3 = 5:31

| title4 = Bad News

| length4 = 4:57

| title5 = She Don't Know

| length5 = 3:55

| title6 = Palmas Da Rua

| length6 = 0:50

| title7 = Same To You

| length7 = 4:28

| title8 = No Man's Prize

| length8 = 4:49

| title9 = March For Mingus

| length9 = 1:02

| title10 = Preacherman

| writer10 = Gardot, Chuck Staab

| length10 = 6:16

| title11 = Morning Sun

| length11 = 5:05

| title12 = If Ever I Recall Your Face

| length12 = 6:51

| title13 = Once I Was Loved

| length13 = 4:50

| title14 = After The Rain

| length14 = 3:08

| title15 = Burying My Troubles

| length15 = 7:45

}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 71:54

| headline = Japanese Edition{{cite web |title=Currency of Man [SHM-CD] Melody Gardot CD Album |url=https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UCCU-1488?s_ssid=e4695f60677deef6ce |publisher=CD Japan |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=en}}

| title16 = Preacherman

| note16=Radio Edit

| writer16 = Gardot, Chuck Staab

| length16 = 3:36

}}

• Melody Gardot – vocals
• The Waters Sisters – choir
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
• Dean Parks – guitar
• Larry Goldings – piano
• Maxime Le Guil – recording & mixing

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://melodygardot.co.uk/}}

{{Melody Gardot}}

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Category:2015 albums

Category:Decca Records albums

Category:Melody Gardot albums

Category:albums produced by Larry Klein