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The Secret Migration
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The Secret Migration Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: The psychedelic indie rockers, led by returning core trio of vocalist Jonathan Donahue, guitarist Grasshopper and drummer Jeff Mercel, return with a less-orchestral follow up to 2001's 'All Is Dream.' Longtime collaborator David Fridmann co-produced.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Stylus Magazine
    100
    Without relying on a crutch of irony and cynicism, they boldly risk sounding cloying in order to summon the emotional honesty necessary to create music that is unabashedly romantic and achingly beautiful.
  2. Playlouder
    90
    Like 'Deserter Songs' and 'All Is Dream' before, 'The Secret Migration' is a compelling, visual album. And yet within this, Mercury Rev have moved on.
  3. Spin
    83
    Rev's overbaked symphonics and space-case triumphalism have become completely indistinguishable from the Flaming Lips. [Jun 2005, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Rolling Stone
    70
    The Secret Migration seethes with life and loveliness, building on the beauty of Dream and 1998's Deserter's Songs but steering clear of the dark overtones on those albums.
  5. Dot Music
    70
    As with previous LPs, “The Secret Migration” works as a set-piece but, with the strings kept on a tighter leash and the production less fulsome, it’s easier to notice the details.
  6. Drowned In Sound
    60
    The Secret Migration is a wonderful record, full of exquisite indie-rock epics. But so was the last Mercury Rev record. And the one before that. So what’s changed? Nothing, basically.
  7. AllMusic
    50
    The Secret Migration is oddly too conventional and too quirky; it's another paradox that this album, which in its own way is Mercury Rev's happiest album, is also, sadly, the weakest of their career.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. sachinp
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    one of the best albums of all time.
  2. [Anonymous]
    Mar 11, 2005
    10
    Ignore any negative reviews of this album. 'The Secret Migration' more than matches the beauty of 'Deserter's Songs' 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
  4. MitchM
    Feb 7, 2005
    9
    great follow-up to previous albums. Not all songs are classics but many are up there with their best.
  5. 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 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.… Expand
  6. AdamH
    Feb 26, 2005
    6
    I love MR -- think everything they've created in the studio had been excellent: emotional, cerebral, visionary, gorgeous. I've had I love MR -- think everything they've created in the studio had been excellent: emotional, cerebral, visionary, gorgeous. I've had this album for a couple of weeks, and it's a pleasant listen, but you shouldn't buy it expecting the kind of religous experience that can be had listening any of MR's other studio albums. You should still but it, though: lots of good melodies; just nothing great and nothing surprising.… Expand
  7. Nick
    Mar 24, 2005
    5
    disappointing and predictable, not a patch on Deserter's, no discernibly great lyrics, no screeching bowed saw or powerful guitars, dull....
  8. BenB
    Feb 21, 2005
    1
    Most disappointing album they have released to date.

See all 18 User Reviews

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