User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 98 Ratings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 86 out of 98
-
Mixed: 3 out of 98
-
Negative: 9 out of 98
Review this album
-
-
Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.
-
-
Submit
-
Check Spelling
- User score
- By date
- Most helpful
-
RobTJul 5, 2009Black Sheep Boy is a masterpiece on level with NMH's Aeroplane Over the Sea.
-
-
DimitrisTJun 27, 2005That's a typical record that will bored you to death if you are not an American. Extra-over-rated local stuff! Give us a break!
-
-
[Anonymous]Jun 23, 2005no more boring americana albums look ahead fellas
-
-
Jun 6, 2011Solid effort, nothing that'll blow your mind but it's worth the money.
-
ZachGOct 21, 2005This album is one that just gets better and better after every listen. It has slowly risen to contend as my #1 album of the year so far. It doesn't get much better than "The Latest Toughs" and "For Real". A must-have for sure.
-
-
MarkO.Jun 22, 2005Album of the year - period. Plus they have an incredible live show.
-
-
GusQJul 14, 2005Beautiful. Simply beautiful. I agree, album of the year so far without a question.
-
-
MCJul 1, 2005A subdued, more literate and less obscure "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." It's in the same league as the Neutral Milk Classic, although "Aeroplane" takes it by a bit. It's that good
-
-
ChaseHJul 6, 2006An epic and incredible journey through the life of a lamb. Scheff's voice is wonderous and sometimes painful to listen to coupled with the dark lyrics. Everything fits perfectly and there isn't a bad track on the record.
-
-
JasperBNov 13, 2005Definetly above average
-
-
LKJun 24, 2005Incredible album.
-
-
BenJun 29, 2005My God, I'm NOT an American and I've given this a 10. Why? Because it deserves it for being absolutely outstanding.
-
-
TravisBJun 30, 2005The vocals have John Nolan of Straylight Run written all over them and the music stirs up feelings of Bright Eyes. Will Sheff's strained vocals allow the listener to feel the raw emotion pouring out of each track. Conceptually wonderful.
-
-
DaveSJul 4, 2005Album of the year... hands down.
-
-
TedPAug 30, 2005The best release since the DBT's Dirty South- just a gripping album, all theway through. Visionary, expansive, narrative- music to be listened too, no heard.
-
-
aaronJan 12, 2006a powerfully sincere and absorbing record. this has got to be their masterpiece.
-
-
JimCMar 11, 2006A heart-wrenching story told through the raw, quavering vocals of Will Sheff. Beautiful and haunting. This album gets better with each listen.
-
-
PaulMay 24, 2006Amazing.
-
-
ChadSMay 9, 2006
-
-
anthonywJul 10, 2006Fantastic album, easily in the top 5 albums of 05. An epic story of the Black Sheep Boy weaved into a storytellers album. Easily their best work.
-
-
DanHAug 6, 2007
-
-
KristannaVNov 15, 2005
-
-
MattSNov 3, 2005This album simply gets better every listen. The imagery and emotion in Sheff's lyrics are incredible, easily the best album of 2005. I'll let you know how the live show goes :)
-
-
JohnnyWDec 8, 2005Common This was By FAR this years best album!!!! Be sure to check out the B-side release.
-
-
DanOJun 21, 2005Album of the year thus far, glad this finally got put on here.
-
-
PaulNJun 22, 2005Great album!!! I especially like the performance of the guitar of For Real and the vocal's hoarse voice.
-
-
JaseLJun 27, 2005Stumbled across this.... Have to order it in (Melbourne Australia) because no one has it. But, it is a very good listen..
-
-
MichaelKJun 28, 2005album of the year by far. no one in ages has sounded so clever and inspired on the subject of love.
-
-
NickDJun 28, 2005Great album, beautiful lyrics - definitely deserved all the praise it received.
-
-
TimHJun 29, 2005The outpouring of emotion combined with beautiful melodies and perfect musical backing is just unmatchable here. A wonderful story with a wonderful storyteller.
-
-
SeyHaSAug 17, 2005Black Sheep Boy is an album aversely dreamy and poignant in concept. The music evokes a quietness to it, but yet it harbors some of the most powerful and ghostly lyrics sung with an emotive and sincere ness that is intrusively beautiful to hear. The last song
-
-
EricASep 11, 2005I simply cannot get over how good this album is... And yet no one I know (even the indie kids) have heard of it. This album easily beats out Sufjan Stevens for album of the year. In a couple of years this will be a classic, and I'll have been there from the start. "Get Big" is one of the most gripping, sad songs I have ever heard.
-
-
ChristianMSep 13, 2005Propably the best album of 2005. Yes, I'm pretty sure. The only ones coming close are Marissa Nadler, The Mountain Goats, Sigur Rós and Caribou. Still this stands as the strongest. Wow.
-
-
ivebeenlisteningtookkervillongerthanyouSep 20, 2005this is their most musicaly and emotionly polished album yet
-
-
PatDOct 27, 2006Simply the gingle greatest album I have heard in 2005 or 6. Amazing Lyrics.
-
-
ScottWMay 11, 2006This will be your new favorite band! The lyrics are soul-baring, the music is sweeping, and Sheff's earnest vocals will blow you away. You have to buy this!
-
-
boomshankaMay 10, 2006melancholic lo-fi wonder - unpolished and raw - this album is so real, focused more on music then production values - i love this album
-
-
RyanMay 27, 2006Best album of 2005.
-
-
MikeMOct 14, 2007Simply phenomenal. Okkervil River's crowing achievement, and a pure joy to listen to from start to finish. I cannot recommend this album enough.
-
-
AlessandroPDec 7, 2007Simply awesome.
-
-
NicholasWOct 8, 2007It might be weird but this guy remindes me of Bob Dylan..but perhaps maybe the thing they have most in common is "greatness"- okay- a little below dylan but still really awesome!!!
-
-
ErikHApr 25, 2007You shouldn't be reading these comments. You should be going to buy this album. Now.
-
-
TiagoFAug 13, 2007Perfect album. Third best album of the 00s. It's sad how underrated it is by critics.
-
-
JamesSAug 8, 2007Beautiful, Powerful, Emotional, Diverse. This album is a musical masterpiece. It's like watching a dream unfold in your mind that highlights all of your weakness and fears as well as all of your strengths. Everytime, at the end, you wake up knowing youself better.
-
-
ColBMay 21, 2008One of the greatest albums of all-time.
-
-
CaseyMJun 26, 2008The entire album and appendix is emotional, beautiful, and perfect. Some critique Sheff's vocals, but I think it adds to the rawness of the emotion he puts into the songs. Simply great!
-
-
ArtOct 14, 2005Yearning without whining, deep without confusion, heartfelt without over the top emotional conjecture; this album easily one of the best of year.
-
-
AStoneNov 8, 2005Completely completely amazing.
-
-
mattaJun 21, 2005Such a good cd. I saw them live with the Decemberists a few months ago and they were amazing. A must own for fans of smart, multi-layered indie rock.
-
-
HankmJun 22, 2005i will never get tired of this record. im so thrilled that it's on the site! it's one of my favorite albums of all time and okkervil river is going all the way!
-
-
DietVanillaMackSJun 27, 2005The most gripping indie record since Neutral MIlk's "Aeroplane." Absolutely heart-wrenchingly horrible-beautiful.
-
-
MichaelMAug 17, 2005Brilliant, just $#%^*!# brilliant.
-
-
DavidMAug 19, 2005
-
-
JHJan 24, 2006A great, great album with depth and passion. The songs stand alone and together are truly ethereal. Okkervil River's Best!
-
-
JonasMay 22, 2006It's too bad that great bands like Okkervil River live in obscurity while there's so much crap being played on mainstream radio. I loved every song!
-
-
PaulNov 5, 2008Amazing.
-
-
TomPNov 17, 2008Black is most likely the best song of 2005. Amazing. The rest is good too.
-
-
Sep 1, 2014Quite possibly the most underrated album of all time. This is indie folk at its finest. I've listened to this album hundreds of times but, unlike other albums, I seem to never get tired of it.
-
Jun 25, 2021Will Sheff's creativity sits prime as proof that a cover song can make an album it's greatest. Best album I've ever listened to. This masterpiece sits on the same level as some of the most critically acclaimed work out there.
Awards & Rankings
-
It's hard not to stare in open-mouthed amazement at the sheer brilliance of Black Sheep Boy, though you're trying to clinically dissect all the elements that make it so.
-
Alternative Press[Sheff's] uncompromisingly literate songs provide unusually rewarding payoffs. [May 2005, p.124]
-
MagnetWhat strike most are Sheff's strained, impassioned vocals and the joyful variety of instrumentation. [#67, p.110]