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Entertainment Weekly

Deeply hypnotic narco-blues that conjure both The Band's epic pastorals... and Nick Cave's Southern Goth. [26 Aug 2005, p.59]

Neumu.net

They've broken their own mold and achieved something unexpectedly fine and durable.

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Dot Music

"Howl" burns with just as much commitment and fervour [as the previous two albums]; it simply burns slower.

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The Guardian

Overall, the songwriting and performances are consistently gripping.

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Uncut

Sparse, literate... and full of killer tunes. [Sep 2005, p.105]

Mojo

The new approach... lets them explore their lyrical side. [Sep 2005, p.94]

Q Magazine

This is a record of towering acoustic-based songwriting. [Sep 2005, p.114]

Drowned In Sound

BRMC’s third album is a triumph.

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Junkmedia

This turn for the yee-haw is a bit mystifying but hardly a mistake; Howl is exactly the cry the BRMC needed to make.

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Spin

Howl is not exactly the group's Nebraska--BRMC dabble in too much "White Album" Beatlemania for that--but it's a general extension of that record. [Sep 2005, p.101]

Los Angeles Times

A love song to American blues, gospel, country dirges and classic songwriting, rife with harmonica, soulful harmonies and dark lyrical themes anchored in notions of loss and redemption. [14 Aug 2005]

musicOMH.com

It isn't their best record, but as an acknowledgement that slabs of feedback-laden noise weren't going to take them much further, and change was needed for an attempt at a long-term career, it's promising.

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New Musical Express

And though the change in volume might be ‘Howl’’s defining characteristic... it’s the shift in attitude that is its finest.

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Prefix Magazine

By the time the country twang of “Ain’t No Easy Way” hits with a massive drum-and-harmonica stomp, thoughts of Howl being a “Hey, let’s try this” album vanish, and the music becomes the entrancing jaunt of a band not necessarily finding itself, per se, but at least writing the best songs of its career.

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Pitchfork

Cramming together brash rock snottiness with meek country hollers is hardly uncharted territory (not that it matters), but BRMC's particular mash-up still makes for a strangely intriguing party.

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Paste Magazine

Howl feels consistently meaty and comfortably crafted. [Oct/Nov 2005, p.121]

ShakingThrough.net

A refreshing and revelatory palate-cleanser.

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Stylus Magazine

Howl is surprisingly solid.

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Rolling Stone

The songwriting on mellower numbers like "Promise" isn't as finely crafted as the expansive sound. [25 Aug 2005, p.99]

Trouser Press

The further they veer from the course (like the misshapen slide guitar and honking harmonica in the stupendous single "Ain’t No Easy Way"), the more memorable the sound.

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Under The Radar

It's a generally unconvincing re-direction of their sound. [#10, p.105]

Alternative Press

Disappointingly forgettable. [Nov 2005, p.218]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Howl indulges the band's heretofore-dormant interest in country, gospel, and Delta blues, in an exercise that sounds about as exercise-y as music gets.

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Blender

Sound[s] like bad Southern swamp songs covered by the world's most miserable bar band. [Sep 2005, p.131]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 44 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mark L. gave it a9:
This album has incredible depth. I find that when artists explore a different sound for a collection of works, people freak out. Why that is, i have no idea. You'd think people would marvel in their ability to cover more ground than what they've previously achieved. BRMC knows how to write songs and capture a feeling with each song. These folk rock songs are a great modernization of old sounds done BRMC style... Great album.

Frank D gave it a9:
Excellent songwriting throughout. Devil's Waitin' would be on Cash's American Recordings VI if Rubin could milk him any further and Ain't No Easy Way is a killer tune. Too bad they can't play their instruments, but the songwriting is awesome.

Ron P gave it a10:
Don't expect the same ol' BRMC - expect something that will blow you away and bring you back time and time again for more...

Mark W gave it a9:
Obviously different to their earleir stuff. Definately better than the previous album. The slower more lyrical stuff works for me. Love it.

Zack A gave it a10:
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. It's one of my favorites of the year. I've gone back and started listening to some Blind Willie Johnson because of it.

TenaciousK gave it a10:
My favorite album of the year. Don't buy it expecting the same BRMC sound. If your musical tastes range broader than the last decade's top 40, particularly if you have some simultaneous appreciation of blues, folk and modern music, you'll love it.

matt a gave it an8:
This is a solid album and great redirection of their sound. Up until track 8 I was convinced I was listening to a definite top ten album of the year. After track 8 it isn't terrible just not as solid which puts it just in my top 25 right now. This is a great cd, much better than the metascore would indicate.

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