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Howl
by
Howl Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 54 Ratings

  • Summary: A radical departure from previous efforts, the band's third album adds a lot of acoustic guitars and other Americana and blues elements into the mix.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Deeply hypnotic narco-blues that conjure both The Band's epic pastorals... and Nick Cave's Southern Goth. [26 Aug 2005, p.59]
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  2. Dot Music
    80
    "Howl" burns with just as much commitment and fervour [as the previous two albums]; it simply burns slower.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    BRMC’s third album is a triumph.
  4. musicOMH.com
    70
    It isn't their best record, but as an acknowledgement that slabs of feedback-laden noise weren't going to take them much further, and change was needed for an attempt at a long-term career, it's promising.
  5. Prefix Magazine
    70
    By the time the country twang of “Ain’t No Easy Way” hits with a massive drum-and-harmonica stomp, thoughts of Howl being a “Hey, let’s try this” album vanish, and the music becomes the entrancing jaunt of a band not necessarily finding itself, per se, but at least writing the best songs of its career.
  6. Rolling Stone
    60
    The songwriting on mellower numbers like "Promise" isn't as finely crafted as the expansive sound. [25 Aug 2005, p.99]
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  7. Blender
    30
    Sound[s] like bad Southern swamp songs covered by the world's most miserable bar band. [Sep 2005, p.131]
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See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 3 out of 29
  1. RonP
    Sep 20, 2006
    10
    Don't expect the same ol' BRMC - expect something that will blow you away and bring you back time and time again for more...
  2. MarkC
    Sep 26, 2005
    10
    Love it
  4. DanG
    Nov 24, 2005
    10
    The freshest album I've heard in a long time. Maturity and insight beyond their three records. This new direction reveals BRMC's The freshest album I've heard in a long time. Maturity and insight beyond their three records. This new direction reveals BRMC's diverse talent and musical knowledge.… Expand
  5. JosephO
    Sep 20, 2005
    9
    This is a fantastice ALBUM. Play it from start to finish in the right frame of mind and you might be convinced too...this is a contender for This is a fantastice ALBUM. Play it from start to finish in the right frame of mind and you might be convinced too...this is a contender for the best of 2005.… Expand
  6. ZavkA
    Sep 26, 2005
    9
    Howl certainly contains some of the most outstanding BRMC songs to date and some of the best Rock this year.
  7. matta
    Dec 6, 2005
    8
    This is a solid album and great redirection of their sound. Up until track 8 I was convinced I was listening to a definite top ten album of This is a solid album and great redirection of their sound. Up until track 8 I was convinced I was listening to a definite top ten album of the year. After track 8 it isn't terrible just not as solid which puts it just in my top 25 right now. This is a great cd, much better than the metascore would indicate.… Collapse
  8. phaid
    Sep 13, 2005
    0
    Loved their first album. Was o.k. with their second. But this mess? This second rate black crowes album? Why? Why? Why? Do they even know who Loved their first album. Was o.k. with their second. But this mess? This second rate black crowes album? Why? Why? Why? Do they even know who they are. A flat out mess.… Expand

See all 29 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Most Shared Album of 2005