Baxter Dury I Thought I Was Better Than You
Released Jun 2, 2023 Heavenly Recordings
Consensus forming 3 professional reviews Updated Oct 5, 2026
Broadly positive consensus
Consensus is still forming across 3 professional reviews. Baxter Dury's I Thought I Was Better Than You tightens his trademark deadpan wit into a compact, idea-dense 27-minute record that critics generally regard as a successful, if brisk, statement.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Shadow (feat. Eska Mtungwazi)
3 critic mentions
“Even though you want to be like Frank Ocean / But you don’t sound like him / You just sound like Ian.” — DIY Magazine
Pale White Nissan (feat. JGRREY)
1 critic mention
Aylesbury Boy (feat. JGRREY)
3 critic mentions
Full critic consensus
Baxter Dury's I Thought I Was Better Than You tightens his trademark deadpan wit into a compact, idea-dense 27-minute record that critics generally regard as a successful, if brisk, statement. The critical consensus—a 76.67/100 score across three professional reviews—points to conversational lyrics, minimalist production, and a recurring tension between comedy and tragedy as the album's defining qualities. Critics consistently praise duets and guest turns, and name-checked tracks emerge as the record's highlights.
Reviewers single out “Shadow (feat. Eska Mtungwazi)” and “Aylesbury Boy (feat. JGRREY)” as standout moments where female vocals and sparse arrangements sharpen Dury's autobiographical reflections on childhood, familial legacy, class and identity. The opener “So Much Money” is cited for setting the tone with its conversational query and pared-back beats, while Hot Press flags “Crowded Rooms” as a textural Tricky-like out-take that adds unexpected depth. Across professional reviews, critics note the record's short, concentrated runtime and its disciplined use of hip-hop rhythms and minimalist production to foreground persona and nepo baby discourse without letting it feel like a gimmick.
While some reviewers temper praise with the observation that brevity leaves certain themes suggested rather than fully explored, the overall critical voice frames the collection as a convincing, cohesive follow-up that balances irony with genuine feeling. For readers searching for an I Thought I Was Better Than You review, the consensus suggests the album is worth listening to for its standout tracks and tight, singular mood.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
So Much Money
Aylesbury Boy (feat. JGRREY)
Celebrate Me (feat. Kosmo Dury)
Leon (feat. JGRREY)
Crashes
Sincere
Pale White Nissan (feat. JGRREY)
Shadow (feat. Eska Mtungwazi)
Crowded Rooms
Glows
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
The opener “So Much Money” sets the tone with that conversational query and minimalist production, while “Shadow (feat. England's voice treats these songs as cleavage points between autobiography and a sharper, post-punk-tinged sound, which is why listeners seeking the best tracks on I Thought I Was Better Than You will likely land on those moments.
Key Points
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The album's strengths are its intimate autobiographical themes, minimalist production, and Baxter's conversational delivery blending post-punk and hip-hop influences.
Themes
Critic's Take
The piece presents these best tracks as evidence that this is not a nepo win but a compact, idea-dense album that feels like the real deal.
Key Points
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The album’s core strength is its compact, idea-dense sequencing that mixes hip-hop influence, oddball vignettes and serene vocal contributions.
Themes
Ho
Critic's Take
Baxter Dury keeps his caustic humour and deadpan delivery intact on I Thought I Was Better Than You, and the best songs show him at his conversational peak. Also notable is “Crowded Rooms”, which the reviewer likens to a Tricky out-take, adding texture to the short, concentrated 27-minute set. Overall the album crams a lot into a brief runtime and convinces by contrast and collaboration.
Key Points
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The album’s core strengths are deadpan lyricism, tight hip-hop-influenced production, and effective vocal collaborations within a concise runtime.