User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Heron King Blues
by
Heron King Blues Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest LP from the Chicago-based experimental indie-rockers returns the same four-piece lineup (led, as always, by Tim Rutili) from 2003's Quicksand/Cradlesnakes.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Pitchfork
    84
    With Califone's penchant for extemporaneous creation finally being properly indulged, Heron King Blues is an appropriately loose and sprawling record, requiring a bit more patience than some of the band's previous projects.
  2. Splendid
    80
    Compelling listening.
  3. Neumu.net
    80
    The music is mysterious and moody, with an unusual blend of instruments and lyrics full of strange imagery, but no real narrative.
  4. Spin
    75
    Rutili still crafts a tuneful funeral dirge with the best of them. [Feb 2004, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Stylus Magazine
    72
    The weak point of the disc... is the songwriting.... But if you’re in it for pure sonic pleasure, you’re in the right place.
  6. Blender
    70
    For all their wriggly noise details and fragmented language, their center of gravity is in their hips. [#23, p.101]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. PopMatters
    40
    [A] hapless, semi-comatose new record that should have started with the last two tracks, while the rest of the album should have been scrapped.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Andy
    Jan 30, 2004
    9
    Pretty awesome on a whole! It does lack the Michigan Girls and Stepdaughter-type pieces of Cradlesnakes, but it definately worth the listen. Pretty awesome on a whole! It does lack the Michigan Girls and Stepdaughter-type pieces of Cradlesnakes, but it definately worth the listen. It will translate well live, as the songs have more space for jamming and rockin'. As with any Califone record, it will take a listen or two to understand what is all going on. Excellent record!… Expand
  2. RambunctiousLumberjack
    Jan 8, 2005
    6
    I fell in love with Califone's two previous albums, Roomsound and Quicksand/Cradlesnakes. The combination of junk percussion, buzzing I fell in love with Califone's two previous albums, Roomsound and Quicksand/Cradlesnakes. The combination of junk percussion, buzzing strings, and unique instrumentation created a splendid wilderness of music. This record is different. The first five songs are similar to their previous works but more subdued, and more importantly, with weaker songwriting. "Trick Bird" approaches the quality of their previous work, the others just seem to drift by without making any impression on the listener. The last two songs are unlike anything Califone has done. "2 Sisters Drunk On Each Other" is a delectable piece that defies accurate description, though there is a definite element of funk there. The final song "Heron King Blues" is crap. I'm all for sonic experimentation, but there has to be some semblance of a song there for anyone to derive any pleasure from it. It's over 14 minutes long, and no one should waste their time listening to it 7 times like I did to see if something good would jump out at me. All in all a disappointing album from a band that has given us so much. Here's hoping lead man Tim Rutili will remember to write some songs before he releases the next Califone album.… Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
All Current Music »