The Secret Migration
by Mercury Rev
  • Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: May 17, 2005
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31

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  1. BørgeB
    Jan 28, 2005
    9
    Its great!
  2. Mickeym
    Feb 2, 2005
    7
    The sugar sweetly sick lyrics get a bit annoying in places - and sometimes you just want them to turn their amps up to 11 and rock out like they can- but this album is a definite grower and worth investigating.
  3. dMaRioN
    Mar 28, 2005
    10
    This band is amazing!!
  4. Julian
    Jan 30, 2005
    10
    Ignore the silly cover design - this is wonderfully crafted epic psychedelic prog-pop not to be missed. It is exultant, as one critix says, so much so that it is hard to place it - it has little of the irony and emotional minimalism of much indie stuff, it has too many bursting highs and shifts of mood for pop, but has a dark undercurrent that separates it from other dreamy pschedelics. Ignore the silly cover design - this is wonderfully crafted epic psychedelic prog-pop not to be missed. It is exultant, as one critix says, so much so that it is hard to place it - it has little of the irony and emotional minimalism of much indie stuff, it has too many bursting highs and shifts of mood for pop, but has a dark undercurrent that separates it from other dreamy pschedelics. It also has a humility and lack of self-destructiveness to keep it out of the Jeff Buckley camp of epic rock. It is out of time altogether - whether this works for or against it, time will tell. I hope so, because this is beautiful and inspiring music.… Expand
  5. MadDog
    Mar 21, 2005
    8
    Nice work, beautifully produced, but oddly familiar. I dont' just refer to earlier Rev works, but take a listen to the one of the best forgotten bands of the 1970's, Pavlov's Dog.
  6. GD
    Apr 8, 2005
    7
    I still think they sound like Supertramp.
  7. SnootyG
    Feb 2, 2005
    9
    Lush, melodic and a real grower. Mercury Rev hit the harmony button and achieve success. If you like entering worlds of swirling orchestrated tunes then be ready to drown in the perfect lushness of this. Mmmmmmmm really lush!
  8. MitchM
    Feb 7, 2005
    9
    great follow-up to previous albums. Not all songs are classics but many are up there with their best.
  9. [Anonymous]
    Mar 11, 2005
    10
    Ignore any negative reviews of this album. 'The Secret Migration' more than matches the beauty of 'Deserter's Songs' and 'All Is Dream'. Rather than resting on their laurels and standing still creatively (which some clueless reviewers have incorrectly suggested) it is in fact a significant progression from their past work and a truly magical album that Ignore any negative reviews of this album. 'The Secret Migration' more than matches the beauty of 'Deserter's Songs' and 'All Is Dream'. Rather than resting on their laurels and standing still creatively (which some clueless reviewers have incorrectly suggested) it is in fact a significant progression from their past work and a truly magical album that improves with every listen.… Collapse
  10. sachinp
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    one of the best albums of all time.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Mojo
    90
    Frankly, you could get drunk just on the minutiae here. [Feb 2005, p.92]
  2. Q Magazine
    70
    The Secret Migration shows a group in complete control of their cosmic idiom, familiar by now yet still seductive. [Jan 2005, p.120]
  3. Uncut
    90
    Mercury Rev's power is undiminished. While never resorting to crude hooks, they build melodies to peaks of graceful intensity. [Album of the Month, Jan 2005, p.114]
See all critic reviews »