Physical (album) - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

Physical received generally positive reviews from music critics, many stating that was the best album by Newton-John at the time. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic made a very positive review and gave the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, writing that "Physical was a damn good record, in many ways one of Olivia Newton-John's very best". He further explained " skillfully balances catchy yet mellow dance cuts with immaculately crafted adult contemporary pop and ballads". Stephen Holden, in a review for Rolling Stone, said that Physical was "Newton-John's best album to date" and "a perfect aural milkshake from the Farrah Fawcett of rock". Holse also contemplated the Farrar's production, calling "a dazzling pop-rock bubblegum production". The album "Picks and Pans" review published by People magazine also was positive, stating that "This LP impressively completes the transformation that began with her 1979 album Totally Hot and has turned Newton-John into a much more aggressive, spirited and entertaining singer" and "This is mainly a pop-rock album, though, and it is a first-class production: danceable, listenable and beguiling".