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A strange, lovely trip.
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Simple as that: this, their sophomore release and first for Sub Pop, is shamelessly gorgeous, totally in control of every threatening exigency and bombastic color.
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83Sea Lion's artwork, song titles, and McPhun's background all suggest something pan-global and yet the album shines brightest when it stays closest to its indie rock roots--a reminder that despite their escapist charms, exploration and travel work best as an accent to the familiarity and comfort of home.
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Culture clashes never sounded so good.
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Sea Lion is a delight.
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60For all its iconoclastic ambition, Sea Lion is a low-key charmer. [Apr 2008, p.102]
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Sea Lion is all over the map. [Spring 2008, p.84]
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80Ryan's predilection for Wilsonesque harmonies, glokenspiel, etc, erupts into twinkly fairytale pop that's bold and forward-looking in equal measure. [Mar 2008, p.113]
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80The sumptuous Sea Lion sees him exploring similar territory to the Elephant 6 collective, adding notes of African highlife, Polynesian folk, Disney soundtracks and (briefly) '80s synth pop, to joyous and naively charming effect. [Apr 2008, p.99]
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70The result is warm, dreamy, evocative and beautiful, a worthy successor to 2005's self-titled debut and an album to savour under the late evening sun, once the summer arrives.
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60Move over, Devendra Banhart: there's a new bunch of bohemian music kooks in town. [Apr 2008, p.115]
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76Like New Zealand itself, it must be experienced to be really understood. [Winter 2008, p.92]
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60The multicultural mix and match works best on “Oh, Mojave.”... However, the Ruby Suns are less appealing when they land closer to home.
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80Layered, and a bit rough-around-the-edges, Sean Lion is also a heck of a lot of fun, and marks The Ruby Suns as a young group to keep an eye on.
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The Ruby Suns’ greatest strength is how easily they’re able to pull off this mix on Sea Lion without seeming over-bearing or preening. It makes the whole album seem effortless.
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60In the end, it’s this overarching need for all things foreign and unknown that will determine the album’s final audience. The tipping factor for anyone listening to Sea Lion will be in his or her resilience and willingness to lose sight of home.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 3 out of 4
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Mixed: 1 out of 4
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Negative: 0 out of 4
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MortenF.5
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OliverC.9I love this album. It loses a point because it does get a little boring at times, but otherwise it is beautiful and fun.
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LawrenceCharles10