| | Full Review | Ratings (119) |
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| 4.0 excellent | Justus0 | May 5th 10 |
Shearwater closes out a musical trilogy with grace and import.
The beauty of Shearwater's The Golden Archipelago can be likened to a majestic landscape under destruction of
catastrophe. There is a palpable sadness that is engaging and yet distant, as if the view is of someplace far away.
With cohesion and understatement Jonathan Meiburg creates the perfect follow-up to 2008's Rook.
A more seamless outing than its predecessor, The Golden Archipelago is prone to stretches of increased subtlety,
where the memorable moments are a bit faint. Lacking some of the punch and climax that gave Rook a more stately
posture, Shearwater's third album in the assumed trilogy, doesn't have the same backdrop with which to play on
its nuances. This leaves it feeling a little pale and muted on occasion. While The Golden Archipelago will reward
listeners as they soak in its waves, it only ebbs in comparison to its predecessor. Had Rook not already
accomplished that by which The Golden Archipelago abides, it would no doubt be a groundbreaking triumph.
In the stunning anticipation felt through "Castaways", to the jubilation of "Black Eyes", and the sincere moments
of dark beauty found in "Missing Islands", Shearwater provide a remarkable conclusion to this sonic odyssey.
-Jonathan Kroening
www.itsjustmusic.net
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | zen5729 | February 25th 10 |
Shearwater's sixth LP The Golden Archipelago comes close to matching the beauty and majesty of its picturesque cover art. The record's diversity might at times seem like it results from a lack of focus, but the band's ambitious, wide-ranging endeavors always prove rewarding. Rustling numbers like "Meridian", angular guitar workouts like "Corridors" and bipolar tunes like "Runners of the Sun", which exercises both the rhythmic and the breathlessly quiet sides of the band, fit together to form an (almost) seamless whole. Jonathan Meiburg's quavery falsetto is a beautiful instrument in itself, tying the loose pieces together.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Shyvin | February 10th 10 |
This album is excellent. It is a well-paced and cohesive album, all the songs are really good. Definitely the best album for 2010 thus far.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | SeaAnemone | May 5th 10 |
This sounds like something my grandmother would like to be honest... if music ever comes up in one of our convos I'm definitely telling her to get this.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Dylan620 | February 16th 10 |
Very ambient, relaxing, and peaceful album.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | doofy | January 7th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | SmersH | December 17th 13 |
| 3.5 great | tef | October 29th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | junyi15 | October 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mvood | July 1st 12 |
| 3.5 great | Polvo | August 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mehd10s | November 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | scas22 | September 25th 10 |
| 3.5 great | cvrcmrc | September 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Piglet | August 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | AnvilJ | June 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | puni | June 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hro | June 5th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Zoo | May 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | tato | May 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | f4b4 | May 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | qwe3 | May 12th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | muchin | March 8th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | cody72 | March 7th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Donkey | March 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | twenty3 | March 3rd 10 |
| 3.5 great | Kiran EMERITUS | February 19th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Rudy K. EMERITUS | February 18th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | vaquero | February 17th 10 |
| 3.5 great | shindip | February 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | po0ty | February 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | DiceMan | February 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Zion | February 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | thebhoy | February 9th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | 204409 EMERITUS | January 26th 10 |
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