Without Feathers
by The Stills
  • Record Label: Vice
  • Release Date: May 9, 2006
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 22
  3. Negative: 5 out of 22

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  1. Shari
    Jun 28, 2006
    6
    Argh. If I had never heard Logic Will Break Your Heart, I would think this was an 'okay' album, listenable but not particularly grabbing. However, having heard Logic, I couldn't possibly be more dissapointed. The great thing about Logic was its overall energy. I mean, those were some seriously solid songs. Any of them could have been singles. But this.... it's not even Argh. If I had never heard Logic Will Break Your Heart, I would think this was an 'okay' album, listenable but not particularly grabbing. However, having heard Logic, I couldn't possibly be more dissapointed. The great thing about Logic was its overall energy. I mean, those were some seriously solid songs. Any of them could have been singles. But this.... it's not even that particularly artful - mostly musical pablum that is easy to ignore.… Expand
  2. jasona
    Jun 3, 2006
    5
    Hey, I loved LWBYH. I could sit down and listen to it straight through and enjoy the whole thing. It had a nice flow to it. That said, this album is consistent as well. It's consistently boring. It's lacking tunes. I will give it this much, it has great production. Unfortunately who listens to an album because of great production? Probably only Rick Rubin.
  3. DanC
    May 14, 2006
    6
    the follow-up to a great first album is a hard thing to pull off. one is either criticized for too much of a departure from their first album (as we see here) or for not departing enough from their first record (The Strokes' ROOM ON FIRE being a case example). I have no problem with The Stills changing direction so long as the passion and panache from LOGIC... is still within the the follow-up to a great first album is a hard thing to pull off. one is either criticized for too much of a departure from their first album (as we see here) or for not departing enough from their first record (The Strokes' ROOM ON FIRE being a case example). I have no problem with The Stills changing direction so long as the passion and panache from LOGIC... is still within the music. And if they want to go ahead and rearrange the entire band, that's fine too. The problem I have with this album isn't that it is different, but that there's no hook in the songs and it seems as if they almost intentionally avoid such hooks that are built within these tracks - attempting to be some kind of grateful dead-esque jam band instead of a kick-ass alternative band. "Halo The Harpoon," "Helicopters" and "Baby Blues" are all good songs - but could've achieved the level of "Love & Death" and "Still In Love Song" had this record seemed more polished, less optimistically deviant and a little more proud of itself. I've seen these guys twice live and they're amazing musicians. I'm sure they'll make a couple more great albums before they hang up their instruments. Somewhere in WITHOUT FEATHERS is a great second album and either they couldn't find it or I can't hear it.… Expand
  4. Andrew
    May 14, 2006
    5
    This album is ok but it is nowhere near the first album. The loss of the guitarist Greg and giving the vocal duties mostly to Dave proved costly to their sound. However, the songs as a whole aren't bad but nothing really stands out to me except the song "Helicopters", which has the old vocalist Tim singing on it. Though "Helicopters" just makes you want to put your LWBYH cd in.
  5. JeremyW
    Jun 11, 2006
    5
    I loved Logic. I simply do not hear the same band on their second full length release. We all know why. But why?I just saw them live here in Calgary and besides a couple songs from the new album everyone ROCKED out to the old stuff way more. It's better. Rich. Passionate. The new stuff seems to be Dave Hamelins vision and it is dry. Tim Fletcher's voice is way sexier and his I loved Logic. I simply do not hear the same band on their second full length release. We all know why. But why?I just saw them live here in Calgary and besides a couple songs from the new album everyone ROCKED out to the old stuff way more. It's better. Rich. Passionate. The new stuff seems to be Dave Hamelins vision and it is dry. Tim Fletcher's voice is way sexier and his presence is far more engaging. Where are the guitars? Oh they left the band over musical differences. Pity. Bring him back. Do you hear me STILLS. You should be Canada's favorite Band but instead you are a major dissappointment.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The result is the work of an effectively new band--and a much better one. [12 May 2006, p.83]
  2. Pitchfork
    67
    Feathers seems less a continuation of Logic than a valuable complement, cheerful and heartfelt as the latter was somber and stylized.
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  3. AllMusic
    70
    Without Feathers may lack its predecessor's apocalyptic vision, but it's a new direction for a group that was heading down an awfully familiar -- and extremely congested -- road.
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