Holopaw - Holopaw
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. 90
    Repeated listening reveals Holopaw to be both a richly textured and profoundly moving record, one of the year's first truly mesmerizing folk albums.
  2. A lesson in subtlety, 10 songs of abstract musical impressions that foil today's connect-the-dots pop.
  3. Holopaw's cover art and Depression-era script logo might be indie-folk standard issue, but the music contained within is a refreshing, effective new use of the boundaries: a wood-paneled Powerbook.
  4. A delicate, contemplative union of indie rock, country, and electronica.
  5. That's not to say that Holopaw isn't good, because it is -- it's ethereal and earthy -- but it's definitely not a record to listen to while you're, say, cleaning your house or on a road trip.
  6. For a debut album, this is extremely strong.
  7. The subtle mix of acoustic instruments with warm electric washes gives Holopaw's songs a surprising amount of depth.
  8. Much of this record is quietly beautiful, and its laments gather weight with repeated listens.
  9. Its ten tracks wend their way through a forest of oblique metaphors, kaleidoscopically fractured images and alt-country instrumentation, their path lit only by the wounding fragility of Orth's voice.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. StevenA
    10
    Incredible. The sincerity of the album surpasses so much of the ironicly snide indie rock of today.
  2. megans
    10
    beautiful. "hula-la" has a profound effect on me.
  3. JoeD
    10
    The best of the year: beautiful mysterious lyrics, sincere quivering vocals, passionate meandering music. I have worn grooves into my disc with repeated listenings, many times pressing replay immediately following the last note of the last song. Full Review »