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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Brightblack Morning Light
EMAILPRINTby Brightblack Morning Light
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Matador
Release Date: 20 June 2006
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
This is the Matador debut for the Northern California outfit founded by cabin- and tent-dwelling childhood friends (from Alabama) Nathan Shineywater and Rachael Hughes.
Also By This Artist: Motion To Rejoin
Also On The Web: BML @ MySpace 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...
Pitchfork
The word "Hypnotic"'s overused, but the band's spatial know-how and rigorously muted flourishes are more than deserving of the accolade. It's well-deep, blossoming ambiance.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
Brightblack Morning Light is a chambered catacomb of meticulous design, a long-player so calm and unassuming that genre modifiers flock to its veneer, are swallowed into its depths, and murdered.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
You will have to surrender yourself completely to this record, for left as background music it will waft pleasantly around your head and out your window.
Read Full Review >Mojo
A hazy treat. [Oct 2006, p.103]
Uncut
A fantastic hybrid of Spacemen 3 and Deep South voodoo. [Oct 2006, p.99]
Stylus Magazine
Brightblack Morning Light is an album that knows no restraint, and its palpable excess are the perfect fit for its first-light sensations.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Brightblack Morning Light never makes any definitive statement, or achieves any kind of catharsis.
Read Full Review >Blender
Thankfully, Brightblack's mellow mysticism never comes at the expense of a frisky groove. [Jul 2006, p.97]
Dusted Magazine
Thankfully, the music that accompanies their lyrical flights of fancy and ever so stoned imagery soothes the chafing caused by such unabashed and often lurid flower power ranting.
Read Full Review >Prefix Magazine
Most of the material is as impressive in sound as it is atmosphere.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Think Spiritualized with a Native American obsession. [Dec 2006, p.133]
musicOMH.com
They peddle freeform sleepy jazz with hypnotic percussion you'll either want to lie in front of for hours or run from screaming.
Read Full Review >Delusions of Adequacy
The unashamedly wilful reductionism of Brightblack Morning Light will either engross or alienate listeners, depending wholly on instinctive preferences.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
It's not bad, it's just not as profound as Shineywater and Hughes would like everyone to believe it is.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Keyboards, sparse guitar, and percussion along with gentle murmuring vocals move at a supremely slow pace making the tracks blend together so that most of them are indistinguishable from one another. [#14]
Alternative Press
The 10 drone-y songs on Brightblack Morning Light sound more like a soundtrack than a traditional album. [Aug 2006, p.206]
Spin
Sounds like the Band in a coma. [Jul 2006, p.82]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Kevin M gave it an8:
Groovy, the whole album melds together to create a very mellow mood. If mellow ain't your thing don't listen to this.
Matt R. gave it an8:
This album is a pleasant, mellow listen. Great on headphones.
todd w gave it a9:
This album is pure mellow, stony, grooviness. Throw it on and unwind. Perfect for late, hot summer nights, before the birds start chirping but after everyone's gone to bed. Can you dig it? Yes, you can.
Mark O gave it a4:
Eh... Not much to this. The first song or two reminds me of the slow bluesy riff from that movie, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", when the cop tows their car away. And since this album is kinda 'same-sy' beginning to end, then it all reminds me of that song. So if you liked "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", then this may be right up your alley!
