Burn Your Fire for No Witness
by Angel Olsen
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 89 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 89
  3. Negative: 2 out of 89
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  1. indiegalaxy10
    Feb 20, 2014
    9
    Angel Olsen , presents an incredible journey to the melancholy and the loneliness , this excellent album has a compendium of songs that are rich in lyricism and faithful in music, his truly talent confirms that she is not only a ordinary folk girl , is a powerful woman.
  2. brettrosey
    Feb 21, 2014
    4
    I'm genuinely surprised by these absurdly high reviews. I get that you have to appreciate the lo-fi folk genre to get into an album like this, but there are way too many bland, filler tracks on here to give it a positive review. Yeah, some of the tracls like Hi-Five and High & Wild have some appeal to them, but to me there's not one song on the album that grabs a hold and doesn't let go.I'm genuinely surprised by these absurdly high reviews. I get that you have to appreciate the lo-fi folk genre to get into an album like this, but there are way too many bland, filler tracks on here to give it a positive review. Yeah, some of the tracls like Hi-Five and High & Wild have some appeal to them, but to me there's not one song on the album that grabs a hold and doesn't let go. For people like me that focus more on the instruments rather than the lyrics, I just don't get the appeal of the album. Not trying to tell anyone else how to feel about it, but as someone who loves the folk genre, this album doesn't cut it for me.… Expand
  3. jyo_tirmaya
    Feb 24, 2014
    10
    A distinctive haunting voice from a new artist (for me) which is what I really wanted Lorde to sound like. In hindsight, the Grammy's need to find suitable people to select contenders for best Alternative Rock artists. The best they could do, out of so many more qualified alternative/indie artists was give Macklemore the Grammy? Pullease! Anyway, I hope this great singer/songwriter,A distinctive haunting voice from a new artist (for me) which is what I really wanted Lorde to sound like. In hindsight, the Grammy's need to find suitable people to select contenders for best Alternative Rock artists. The best they could do, out of so many more qualified alternative/indie artists was give Macklemore the Grammy? Pullease! Anyway, I hope this great singer/songwriter, Angel Olsen, gets the attention she deserves. Yes! You DO have the voice, Angel.… Expand
  4. adhamhany
    Feb 22, 2014
    8
    A serene folk album about loneliness and broken hearts. The music, while minimal, is good. The lyrics are beautiful, with a great voice to sing them.

    The first half of the album is okay, but it's the second half (from "Stars" till the end) where the album truly shines. This album would have got a much lower score if not for these five last tracks.
  5. Ricko
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    On hearing the opening track for the first time I was struck by the blend of countryesque, Patsy Cline type vocals and the indie rock power chords being beat out on a muffled acoustic guitar. The set up of the song highlights Olsen's distinct, a type of indie country rock with a large dose of pop in there. If I were to make comparisons it would with early Lou Reed but with a severe countryOn hearing the opening track for the first time I was struck by the blend of countryesque, Patsy Cline type vocals and the indie rock power chords being beat out on a muffled acoustic guitar. The set up of the song highlights Olsen's distinct, a type of indie country rock with a large dose of pop in there. If I were to make comparisons it would with early Lou Reed but with a severe country twist. The record is made up of a really strong first side and a solidly decent second half. It's a pity that the quality fades a little, if Olsen had managed to maintain the first half's quality throughout it could have been one of the albums of the year. What your left with is still well worth checking out.… Expand
  6. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    5
    This album is a change of pace from her previous album, departing from the bold, rootsy sound on her previous release. Delving into genres of Folk and Garage Rock here. Overall it's handled pretty clumsily. The lo-fi nature doesn't help much either. Not really a bad album, but not really any good either. Definitely a step back in progress from her previous release.
  7. exodus9237
    Dec 31, 2014
    9
    The first time I saw Angel Olsen I thought she was beautiful, an adjective I could easily use to describe her music too. This one is the only album I have heard of her, and it is simply excellent. With an alt-rock mood, straight-from-the-heart lyrics, and some folk melodies along the way, the album made me fall in for her, besides the physical attraction in the beginning.
  8. CamdenRendell
    Jan 29, 2018
    8
    A very melancholy indie rock album. Much more approachable than her previous album. Great album.
  9. All_ButTrU4
    Aug 25, 2022
    7
    Lofi perfection. an incredible journey to the melancholy and the loneliness , this excellent album has a compendium of songs that are rich in lyricism and faithful in music, his truly talent confirms that she is not only a ordinary folk girl , is a powerful woman.
  10. kevinaoapague12
    Jan 15, 2020
    10
    Perfeito! Um álbum de tão bom sem precisar de uma produção complexa, e ainda gerou várias obras foras do álbum como a compilação Phases, Magnum Opus da Angel Olsen...
  11. jens76
    Oct 22, 2022
    7
    Angel Olsen, was soll ich sagen, dieses Frauchen hat es mir auch angetan. Eine sehr liebe, melancholische Stimme, traurig, stark und treu, man möchte spuren.
  12. Ndrwdvdbrsn
    Oct 9, 2022
    0
    Angel Olsen really outdid herself with Burn Your Fire for No Witness. One of my favorite albums for sure.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best Album of 2014
89
#89 Most Discussed Album of 2014
97
#97 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. cokemachineglow
    Jul 28, 2014
    80
    Burn Your Fire stands against records that damage and internalise by sticking to their convictions, instead of meta-analysing and working out where the lines are drawn.
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  2. Austin Chronicle
    Mar 12, 2014
    89
    Olsen transcends ephemeral charm at every turn.
    Read full review
  3. Sputnikmusic
    Mar 11, 2014
    96
    Burn Your Fire for No Witness’ eleven songs benefit greatly from the heightened sense of clarity afforded by the more spacious arrangements.
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