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Heal
by
Heal Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length release (and the first on Dead Oceans) from Indiana singer-songwriter Tim Showalter features contribution from J. Mascis and was produced by Ben Vehorn.
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Top Track

Woke Up to the Light
I woke up to the light You woke up to my hand Reaching for the night We ran If the morning comes I will still be here Holding off the lines of our... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The A.V. Club
    Jun 24, 2014
    100
    Showalter does Coldplay better than Coldplay has in a long time, delivering an invitation into his world through this profoundly affecting work of artistic necessity.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Jul 7, 2014
    90
    That an album that sounds this vibrant and thrilling came out of such dark circumstance is a testament to the songwriting skills of Showalter. Pain never sounded so good.
  3. Pretty Much Amazing
    Jun 27, 2014
    83
    Throughout, Showalter comes over like a visionary risk-taker with nothing to lose, not to mention like a consummate frontman.
  4. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Jun 24, 2014
    80
    One moment--the Jason Molina tribute “JM”--is startling enough to forgive the clunking stadium-grunge workouts that seem, conversely, to be bringing Strand of Oaks to wider attention.
  5. Q Magazine
    Jul 2, 2014
    80
    Same Emotions, meanwhile, sounds like a lovingly recreated homage to the soft rock of Journey, Toto, et al. Best of all is his deeply personal tribute to the late Jason Molina. [Aug 2014, p.113]
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  6. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jul 15, 2014
    70
    This is, after all, a rock album, so don’t expect anything too innovative, but do expect moments of beauty and lots of writerly oversharing.
  7. Paste Magazine
    Jul 10, 2014
    62
    HEAL ultimately sounds like a transitional album, and as such reveals both unexpected strengths and weaknesses.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. 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,    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.    … Expand
  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 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.    … Collapse
  4. 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 prettyThis 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.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2014

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