Let's Be Still
by The Head and the Heart
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Oct 15, 2013
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. AllMusic
    Oct 14, 2013
    70
    Let’s Be Still engages the most when it tiptoes outside of its comfort zone.
  2. Q Magazine
    Jan 7, 2014
    80
    It's a beautiful set of sweeping prairie ballads. [Jan 2014, p.122]
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  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Mar 3, 2014
    60
    This is glossy Americana, mixing The Avett Brothers with Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, its piano- and violin-led crescendos emulating old-timey grandeur.
  5. Rolling Stone
    Oct 18, 2013
    60
    Their strummy singalongs make them kin to the Mumfords, their choral singing to neighbors Fleet Foxes.
  6. musicOMH.com
    Oct 23, 2013
    70
    While unlikely to change anyone’s life, The Head And The Heart have produced a record that’s richly enjoyable and well performed throughout, establishing themselves as a worthy addition to their home town’s roll of honour.
  7. Exclaim
    Oct 14, 2013
    70
    While founders Jonathan Russell and Josiah Johnson do seem to come from the Simon & Garfunkel school of songcraft, an appreciation of California pop also comes out.
  8. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 28, 2014
    50
    On Let’s Be Still, they sporadically do a good job of nagging at the heart, but fail to convince the head that this hasn’t been done better elsewhere, plenty of times before.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Oct 15, 2013
    50
    Let’s Be Still falters in its lethargy.
  10. The Line of Best Fit
    Oct 14, 2013
    70
    Let’s Be Still is wholesome and sincere, in the way those words were intended, and without any pretense or airs and graces.
  11. Paste Magazine
    Oct 15, 2013
    79
    On Let’s Be Still, the warm vocal tandem of Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell is pared down to its core vibrancy, as two soul-sapped, lovelorn bellowers more casually croon their wishes and woes.
  12. Consequence
    Oct 16, 2013
    70
    Compared to their eponymous debut, Let’s Be Still leans more heavily on pop ditties, which enliven and invigorate the album.
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    Oct 18, 2013
    91
    There's enough head and heart here to carry these guys long after the folk-rock fad fades. [25 Oct/1 Nov 2013, p.100]
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  14. Alternative Press
    Oct 14, 2013
    80
    The Head And The Heart do pretty much everything right on Let's Be Still. [Nov 2013, p.88]
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  15. American Songwriter
    Oct 14, 2013
    70
    What The Head and The Heart do best are ballads, even if they can’t help themselves from venturing into other arenas now and again.
  16. Delusions of Adequacy
    Oct 16, 2013
    80
    There is a hardy amount of sweet material on Let’s Be Still and it is a perfect accompaniment to a morning sunrise or a low-key soirée in the woods.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Most Shared Album of 2013

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. WadeVS
    Oct 15, 2013
    9
    The do it again. A very very beautiful album, well organised with more focus than their debut, convincing us that they have what it takes toThe do it again. A very very beautiful album, well organised with more focus than their debut, convincing us that they have what it takes to be more than just a trendy hipster band,… Full Review »
  2. khutch
    Mar 18, 2014
    9
    Impressive, is real, kind and sincere, by the combined chords along with the 3 voices who carry the album are subtle, and at the same strong.Impressive, is real, kind and sincere, by the combined chords along with the 3 voices who carry the album are subtle, and at the same strong.
    It is a tour of the most well done to the indie world.    … Full Review »
  3. skadosmen
    Jan 8, 2014
    10
    this is one of the most perfect albums I've heard in my life! the sounds and the lyrics make perfect my days all the songs are beautiful andthis is one of the most perfect albums I've heard in my life! the sounds and the lyrics make perfect my days all the songs are beautiful and my fav is let's be still.… Full Review »
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