Heal
by Strand of Oaks
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
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  1. WadeVS
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    This is a near flawless masterpiece of an album. Staggeringly honest, bold and expansive in terms of sound Timothy dips into his not so pretty past & delivers something timeless and memorable. Drags a little bit on last few tracks.
  2. adhamhany
    Aug 9, 2014
    9
    This is the first time for me to hear any of Strand's work. While i expected folk music, i was surprised to find something entirely different.

    This is some very powerful and loud music in here. It is also an emotional roller-coaster. Sometimes, you will feel devastated. In others, you will feel uplifted. It really - brilliantly - complements the autobiographical tone of the album, as    This is the first time for me to hear any of Strand's work. While i expected folk music, i was surprised to find something entirely different.

    This is some very powerful and loud music in here. It is also an emotional roller-coaster. Sometimes, you will feel devastated. In others, you will feel uplifted. It really - brilliantly - complements the autobiographical tone of the album, as Showalter pours his heart out about his troubles and his memories. His vocal performance, and the guitar work, are two of the three best things in this album.

    The third is the lyrics. They are some of the most beautiful i heard in a long time. From the opening track (Goshen '97) when he sang "i was lonely but i was having fun" (about his memories as a teenager in his Dad's basement), i became immediately captivated.

    The only flaw i found in the album is that some tracks didn't resonate as strongly as others. Among these others are: Goshen '97, Woke Up To The Light, and JM.    … Expand
  3. agr42
    Jun 30, 2014
    10
    Listening to 'HEAL' felt like having someone push you over, kick you in the balls, and then offer you a friendly hand to help you up.
    Sad, uplifting, some sweet J Mascis licks, a tribute to Jason Molina ... this album has it all. Can't stop listening to it.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    80
    Heal is a triumph of cathartic rock. [Summer 2014, p.90]
  2. Uncut
    Jul 24, 2014
    80
    Odd--and oddly impressive. [Jul 2014, p.81]
  3. Mojo
    Jul 24, 2014
    80
    Heal's molten flow of grandiloquent '70s rock and '80s electronica is unstoppable. [Jul 2014, p.88]
See all critic reviews »