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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Yoko
Universal acclaim
Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Velocette
Release Date: 09 September 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
The San Francisco group's fourth album is its darkest in mood so far, perhaps a result of several changes in band membership since 2001's 'The Coast Is Never Clear.'
Also By This Artist: The Coast Is Never Clear
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Dusted Magazine
Beulah have somehow blended the sounds their last three albums, each a significant achievement on its own, into one career-spanning epic, completely worthy of their reputation; any small ways in which their past work has seemed lacking, superficial, or scatterbrained is gone, and only the best points remain.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
A switch in approach and sound definitely worked for them, and fans shouldn't be put off by Beulah's toughened confidence.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
A melodic masterpiece of regret. [Oct 2003, p.122]
The Guardian
Where Kurosky's fiercely sardonic lyrics were once couched in soaring trumpet lines and glorious powerpop hooks, now they bristle against grumbling electronics, sliding discordant chords and drunken, hazy horns.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
An epic alt.rock symphony that takes the band’s trademark sun-kissed melodies and brass flourishes and melds them into something altogether darker and achingly beautiful. Unsurprisingly, it’s an approach that more than pays off.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Recalls an Americanized Delgados, or Camper Van Beethoven after it made the transition from happy college-rock to the grim Americana of 1989's masterful Key Lime Pie.
Read Full Review >Ink 19
It's the detailed complexity and playfulness of the performances that really set Yoko apart from your regular psych-pop release.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
When Yoko isn't channeling Wilco, it calls to mind another giant on the American indie rock scene: Spoon.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
The band has tossed some of the sunny pop of 2001's The Coast Is Never Clear, paring down some of the horn-happy melodies that have defined their style, but their songs are still bright and elegant.
Read Full Review >Splendid
Yoko is a much, much darker record than anything else in Beulah's canon.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Everything is intricately wrought and calculated, perhaps in an overly accommodating response to fears of linearity. This fashionable awareness lends an almost palpable weight to the sound. It succeeds in adding depth and texture to the album, but sometimes overshoots the mark.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Yoko isn't exactly what fans of the first three albums might be expecting, but it's still a Beulah album. [#5, p.99]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
j jay gave it a10:
One of my favorite albums ever. Its a modern masterpiece that I rank up there with Modest Mouse's The Moon and Antarctica. So terribly overlooked, will it ever get the respect it deserves?
Kilgore Trout gave it a10:
A very impressive swan song for the band (no pun intended). Really hated to see these guys call it a day. So, so sad that the realities of modern (& NorCal) life make it so hard for anyone with true talent to make ends meet. P.S. buy the Demo of this album as well; just as awesome.
Mary U gave it a 10:
Great lyrics, wonderful melodies, interesting instrumentation, superb album.
Jenny M gave it a 10:
Darker, moodier, more mature, yet still very poppy and catchy as hell. A very provocative and emotional piece of work.
sarah s gave it a 10:
my favorite of all their records. it's been in constant rotation for almost a year.
gregory v gave it a 10:
If making four critically acclaimed albums and becoming one of the most respected and adored indie bands in America is embarrassing, then keep making fools of yourselves boys! Just like all the others...beautiful from start to finish. In my humble opinion, their best work to date.
Gabor A gave it a 3:
The group skims the frosting off of the cake and becomes aware that the base, their ability to play music, is not there. Darker, just as bad, hopefully a wake up call to stop embarrasing themselves.
