Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Golden Archipelago - Shearwater
Golden Archipelago Image
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: Produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Black Mountain, Polyphonic Spree, Explosions in the Sky), Golden Archipelago is Shearwater's third album released on Matador Records.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Slant Magazine
    90
    Overflowing with talent and ambition, Golden Archipelago is that rare kind of great album: tackling big ideas and attempting chancy things while delivering a product that feels flawlessly and decisively whole.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    88
    The details – the drone of a guitar string, the reverberation of a drum mallet, the swoon of a string section --- are reason enough to reward a close listen.
  3. Mojo
    60
    Don't expect a companion to the "Life On Earth" soundtrack though, even the ballads here are highly strung, some made otherworldly by drones, controlled feedback and mallet percussion, other stung by Meiburg's vocals, gear-shifted from choirboy puriety to anguish. [Mar 2010, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Raywater
    10
    This album(and have no doubt it's an album on the grandest scale) hides so many surprises so many twists and turns that by the end of it's all too short running time you are left inspired, breathess and certain you've just made one of the great discoveries of your life. From the haunting opening Meridians to the scrape the sky Corridors you're flown head first toward the intens Missing Islands. A true classic has been delivered. A contender for album of the decade. High praise indeed. Believe.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Loveless [Reissue] - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 96
  2. Ram [Deluxe Edition] - Paul & Linda McCartney
    Metascore: 93
  3. L.A. Woman - The Doors
    Metascore: 93
  4. On the Impossible Past - The Menzingers
    Metascore: 93
  5. Biokinetics [Reissue] - Porter Ricks
    Metascore: 93
  6. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 91
  7. Reform Club - Claro Intelecto
    Metascore: 89
  8. Be Good - Gregory Porter
    Metascore: 89
  9. Crown and Treaty - Sweet Billy Pilgrim
    Metascore: 88
  10. 1992-2012 - Underworld
    Metascore: 88
  11. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
  12. Accelerando - Vijay Iyer Trio
    Metascore: 87
  13. R.A.P. Music - Killer Mike
    Metascore: 87
  14. Voices from the Lake - Voices from the Lake
    Metascore: 87
  15. The Earn - Yu
    Metascore: 86
  16. Europe - Allo Darlin'
    Metascore: 86
  17. Young Man In America - Anais Mitchell
    Metascore: 86
  18. Vee Vee [Remastered] - Archers of Loaf
    Metascore: 86
  19. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions - Billy Bragg/Wilco
    Metascore: 86
  20. Locked Down - Dr. John
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »