Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Insignificance - Jim O'Rourke
Insignificance Image
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: The Chicago-based avant-garde musician (best known for his work in Gastr Del Sol) offers up seven new tracks in his follow-up to 1999's 'Eureka.' Wilco's Jeff Tweedy adds guitar.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Uncut
    90
    This is adventurous modern music which uses old rock and singer-songwriter traditions as the raw material to be manipulated. [Album Of The Month, Feb 2002, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Dot Music
    90
    'Insignificance' is an album fraught with contradictions: tightly funky guitars sit alongside angelic piano and crunching 70s rock riffs shoulder belligerently up to honeyed pop harmonies. These are fascinating contradictions glued together with a binding harmonic honesty.
  3. Billboard
    30
    His least demanding work ever, steeped in the traditions of pop and rock.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. JamesD.
    10
    Although there are more exceptionally compelling moments on O"Rourke's "Eureka", "Insignificance" is the most consistently satisfying his pop-era years to date. (Nearly) absent are any traces of his earliest chaos-theory inspired noise of his early years; moreover, his infatuation with '70's MOR radio sounds far less cloying than examples of such off of his recent solo efforts (if just as ironic). And his lyrics are easily as entertainingly misanthropistic as ever. Plus, it Seriously Rocks. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. JimM.
    9
    When i first picked up a copy a Eureka i had only heard a couple of things that Jim had done. When i got it home and played it i can honestly say i dont think i have (or ever will) hear anything like it again. So when Insignificance came out, i was first in line for a copy. Yet again he brings the bacon home and you can pigeon this album all you want Mr Piero Scaruffi but the fact is it rocks. Im not going to go into great detail about the arrangements and blah de blah but this guy is one of the few today who truly make the gee-tar sing and listening to his wicked lyricoligy is a joy, he could insult me any day of the week. Nuff said. … Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 3 User Reviews

Recommended Products

  1. El Camino - The Black Keys

    • Release Date: Dec 6, 2011
    El Camino Image

  2. Parallax - Atlas Sound

    • Release Date: Nov 8, 2011
    Parallax Image

  3. The Visitor - Jim O'Rourke

    • Release Date: Sep 8, 2009
    The Visitor Image

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Tago Mago [40th Anniversary Edition] - Can
    Metascore: 99
  2. Live in Europe 1967: Best of the Bootleg, Vol. 1 - Miles Davis
    Metascore: 99
  3. Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 96
  4. The SMiLE Sessions - The Beach Boys
    Metascore: 96
  5. National Treasures: The Complete Singles - Manic Street Preachers
    Metascore: 95
  6. Satan Is Real/Handpicked Songs 1955-1962 - The Louvin Brothers
    Metascore: 94
  7. Achtung Baby [Super Deluxe] - U2
    Metascore: 93
  8. Some Girls [Deluxe Edition] - The Rolling Stones
    Metascore: 93
  9. Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down - Ry Cooder
    Metascore: 92
  10. Unto the Locust - Machine Head
    Metascore: 91
  11. Quadrophenia [The Director's Cut] - The Who
    Metascore: 90
  12. Rio [Live] - Keith Jarrett
    Metascore: 90
  13. What Were You Hoping For? - Van Hunt
    Metascore: 90
  14. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 90
  15. Charity Starts at Home - Phonte
    Metascore: 89
  16. Nevermind [20th Anniversary Edition] - Nirvana
    Metascore: 89
  17. Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller, Vol. 1 - Drexciya
    Metascore: 88
  18. Bad as Me - Tom Waits
    Metascore: 88
  19. The Singles - Goldfrapp
    Metascore: 88
  20. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
All Current Music »