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Worried Well Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the latest release for the Portland-based trio.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Worried Well often sounds as confused and pompous as it does visionary. Luckily, the band has enough urgency and runaway sonic flexibility to turn that into one of its charms.
  2. 31Knots deserves encomium for their daring and ingenuity.
  3. 31Knots have produced a very good album--maybe even a great album--but one that simply does not reach the level it could have.
  4. This is clearly a band with some musicology under its collective belt, and its members have the technical skill to fold their diverse interests into guitar rock without forcing anything; the surprises come fast and, often, satisfyingly. But Haege's big voice puts a lot of emphasis on the prolix lyrics, which remain dismal.
  5. It’s not that 31 Knots aren’t succeeding in flexing their musical chops--they just don’t know where to take them.
  6. They sound worn out by the struggle in a time where one more burst of energy, from them or anyone, can go a long way.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. ChristopherP.
    Sep 6, 2008
    7
    31Knots is an amazing group which I like to jokingly refer to as "my favourite post-indie jazz punk math rock band." In reality, it would be 31Knots is an amazing group which I like to jokingly refer to as "my favourite post-indie jazz punk math rock band." In reality, it would be unfair to affix them with a genre label, as they possess one of the only truly original sounds I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Songs go from manic to melodic, discordian to catchy and back again all within the space of four minutes. "Worried Well" is not my favourite 31Knots album... it's rather a blending of their previous styles that comes after 2007's "The Days And Nights Of Everything Anywhere," which took the group to new places and was very successful after multiple listens. "Worried Well," on the other hand, while very enjoyable, is far less cohesive. If you're new to the band, I might recommend beginning with "It Was High Time To Escape" (2003) or "Talk Like Blood" (2005). Skip their first album for now, "ClimaxAntiClimax", unless you're really into the conventional math rock/post-rock sound. These elements would be incorporated into their future, more original recordings. Expand