Rook - Shearwater
Rook Image
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 44 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The Austin-based band cofounded by Okkervil River's Jonathan Meiburg releases its fifth album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    100
    With Rook they have fashioned an album that is melodic, tender, outstanding but above all, captivating. One thing is for sure, this is one of the best albums of the year.
  2. Pitchfork
    80
    As impressive and uniformly gorgeous a record as Rook is, the band's best work is likely still to come.
  3. Under The Radar
    80
    Rook is the kind of music that people fall in love with, not simply because it’s, by most metrics, wonderful music, but because it contains enough mood swings that no matter how you are feeling, it’s always appropriate. [Summer 2008]
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  4. Tiny Mix Tapes
    20
    The songs here tend to go nowhere for a quiet couple of minutes before bursting randomly into tightly composed melodrama, which could be mistaken for actually going somewhere.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. StanleyD
    10
    Beautiful album, yes melancholy but still enjoyable. Something to listen to when unwinding after a hard day at work or a quiet hike in the wilderness.… Expand
  2. JyotirmayaD.
    8
    This beautiful album was more than I expected. I expected something lovely, but it has gone beyond that. It has gone to my heart and it is a very heartfelt album... I never thought I'd ever get this enjoyment from listening to an album based on birds however.… Expand
  3. ChristopherH
    5
    Gotta agree with Charlie Q, except that I mind the vocals - they're a bit too warbling for me. The melodramatic production was layed on a bit too thick - it came off cheesy and emo-ish. If they has kept it more sparse, perhaps, it would have let the songs come out more. (there was a few bon iver moments that I liked...)… Expand
  4. CharlieQ.
    4
    Okay, I will listen to this album again, because I really don't "get" it yet. I don't mind the voice, but I'm not particularly in love with it. And as for the music, well, one of the critics referred to it as the "calm before the storm". I guess I can agree with that, but when is the storm coming?....because the calm is kind of boring.… Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

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