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Black Mountain
by
Black Mountain Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut LP for Stephen McBean's Black Mountain project, which shares members with Jerk With A Bomb and Pink Mountaintops.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. Amazon.com
    100
    The disc is truly beautiful on the ears, filled with gorgeous dynamics, crisp, discordant playing and impressive production to boot.
  2. Pitchfork
    83
    Black Mountain are about as referential as they come. But despite the obvious touchstones-- which, incidentally, fucking rule-- the band are affable and idiosyncratic enough to win over those who passed on recent retrofits like Comets on Fire's Blue Cathedral or My Morning Jacket's It Still Moves, and make those records' admirers practically cream themselves.
  3. Paste Magazine
    80
    Black Mountain indulges that old-school rock ’n’ roll craving.
  4. Rolling Stone
    70
    There's no doubt that the band's Monsters of Rock sound is arena-ready.
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    The band kick back and noodle with a refreshing nonchalance. [Aug 2005, p.137]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Village Voice
    60
    I'd call it "psych-drone-sludge" except it's more tuneful and lively than those words imply.
  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    20
    Comets on Fire, 90 Day Men and No Doctors all released albums within the last year that proved classic rock to be relevant in today's music community. The difference between these bands and Black Mountain is that it doesn't sound like the members of Black Mountain had to crush their souls to write their songs.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. RH
    Mar 17, 2006
    8
    This was a pretty strong release that was sadly ignored last year by most. It's really got a lot of interest for anyone who even mildly This was a pretty strong release that was sadly ignored last year by most. It's really got a lot of interest for anyone who even mildly enjoys classic rock.… Expand
  2. TristramIV
    Mar 1, 2012
    6
    It doesn't always land where it aims but what redeems this record is just that. It consistently goes just askew from where you think it will.It doesn't always land where it aims but what redeems this record is just that. It consistently goes just askew from where you think it will. The effect of this is, depending on your temperament, either adventurous or annoying. After the mission statement of an opener, Modern Music, the band begrudgingly settles in until successive tracks, Set Us Free and No Hits, form the centerpiece. The latter features a relentless synth line, amid Patti Smith folk noir and Velvet's anti-psychedelia, that will have you seeing Michael Myers (no not the SNL guy) and the former smolders before rising into crescendo. Born of disparate parts, Black Mountain is almost overwhelming. It's a classic rock record for those who hate the idea of classic rock. And if that doesn't seem like a glowing endorsement it might be because the band hints throughout that their favorite joy is sneaking up on people.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Shared Album of 2005