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. BrendanD
    Jun 30, 2006
    3
    I'm still trying to figure out what people see in the Stills. I wasn't unimpressed by their debut, but I haven't heard anything by this band so far that makes them worthy of indie worship (part of which, I have to think, is due to the accolades given by Zach Braff, who included a lot of their stuff in teen-indie darling "Garden State"). I decided to give them another chance I'm still trying to figure out what people see in the Stills. I wasn't unimpressed by their debut, but I haven't heard anything by this band so far that makes them worthy of indie worship (part of which, I have to think, is due to the accolades given by Zach Braff, who included a lot of their stuff in teen-indie darling "Garden State"). I decided to give them another chance when I finally sat down and listened to the soundtrack from "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," but I found their track to be one of only two songs I DIDN'T like, the other being Avril Lavigne's horrendous cover of the show's theme song. So I wasn't expecting much of their latest release, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The feel of "Without Feathers" is very mundane and samey-sounding (I'd almost liken them to an indie version of Matchbox 20, but that would be a little TOO harsh of a criticism), and perhaps most importantly, there don't seem to be a lot of hooks. I've been hearing that people find resemblances to the Kinks or Elton John, but I'm hearing the more angsty side of Ryan Adams or that awful "Bad Day" song. This is mostly fizzle and hype with no real "pop."… Expand
  2. riecks
    May 26, 2006
    3
    really disappointed in this one...LOGIC is a fave and this is BORING
  3. AndrewA
    May 15, 2006
    3
    When a band changes its style for a new album they have to expect some of the older fans to be disappointed. Its all good and well to say they are moving on to a new sound and advancing but if it aint broke then dont fix it - disappointed.
  4. JohnR
    May 12, 2006
    3
    If I said that this was a bitter disappointment, I would probably be flattering this new release somewhat. Their first record 'Logic..' was a masterpiece whereas 'Without Feathers' is really quite poor. A great shame.

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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