|
New & Current Releases
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search
Upcoming Release Calendar
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best Of 2008
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Best Of 2004
Best Of 2003
Best Of 2002
Best Of 2001
Best Of 2000
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Music In Our Forums
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
|
Woke On A Whaleheart
by Bill Callahan
MUSIC:
The singer-songwriter behind Smog [and its more parenthetical offshoot, (Smog)] returns with his first release under his given name.
| LABEL: |
Drag City |
| RELEASE DATE: |
24 April 2007 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Indie, Rock |
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...
90
Tiny Mix Tapes
This album is ridiculously rhythmic.
90
Lost At Sea
Woke On A Whaleheart is a pleasure, and aside from the intro to the song "Footprints," every moment on this record is immensely listenable.
83
The Onion (A.V. Club)
While Callahan's Woke On A Whaleheart shares Smog's rumbly tone and rootsy foundations, it is a bit of a departure.
80
Mojo
The music... still has the from-odd-angles of Smog records, but now there's exquisite light amid the shade. [Jun 2007, p.114]
80
Dot Music
Callahan's trademark cold brittle voice - part Lou Reed, part Droopy - remains intact, but musically and lyrically he's a lamb in springtime.
80
Playlouder
Anyone expecting something similar to his early doom-laden musings will find nothing of the sort here.
80
Hartford Courant
"Whaleheart" is sure to be one of the year's finest releases, which shouldn't come as news to anyone familiar with Callahan's singular, indelible songwriting.
80
Under The Radar
A refined mix of Americana, country, and gospel. [#17, p.83]
80
Uncut
An album that shines light, albeit dimly, into hidden corners of the soul. [May 2007, p.100]
70
All Music Guide
It employs all his strengths as a writer of lyrics and music and stretches the canvas of his colorful if sparsely arranged tapestry.
70
Paste Magazine
Mr. Callahan has finally completed his two-decade transformation from malevolent provocateur to aphoristic folk-rocker. [Apr 2007, p.59]
70
Alternative Press
The sound of an artist refreshed and renewed. [May 2007, p.150]
70
Prefix Magazine
It's far from his best work, but, as Callahan takes a detour into rootsy musical traditions such as country and gospel, it is a characteristically eccentric release.
69
Pitchfork
Woke on a Whaleheart is a deceptively easy listen-- steady, lulling, and vehemently organic-- but consequently, it can begin to feel invisible.
60
Dusted Magazine
Bill Callahan's latest solo effort is so laid back that it almost never gets going at all.
58
Stylus Magazine
While I’ll stop short of saying that [co-producer Neil Michael] Hagerty ruined this record, I can definitively say that I’d love to hear what it would have sounded like before he got his hands on it.
50
The New York Times
There are times when Mr. Callahan’s deliberate, word-centric approach seems merely perverse instead of brave, and somehow the album seems much shorter than its 40 minutes, as if it’s only a sketch for what’s next.
50
Spin
Skirting the emotional depths that marked his past work, Callahan's new persona feels almost shallow. [May 2007, p.84]
The average user rating for this album is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Discuss this album in our forums |
|
