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UncutOct 11, 2022Nothing Special draws back from Okkervil River's giddy pop whirls in favour of beautiful, ruminative, Lambchop-ish ballads which, while lengthy, never outstay their welcome. [Nov 2022, p.36]
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Oct 11, 2022At times, the measured approach he takes on some songs falls short of supplying the momentum needed for each part to hit in the exact way he wanted, but for the most part, Sheff creates a landscape of gentle dynamics that grow until they release their stored energy through unexpected eruptions of kinetic movement.
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Oct 13, 2022When I’m in the perfect mindset this album feels like one of the finest albums I’ve heard all year, while if listened to when the mood isn’t quite right, the sleepiness of most of the album overwhelms its virtues. At the very least, Nothing Special is worth a spin for fans of Okkervil River, folk, or good lyrics, if for no other reason than to decide whether the album title is appropriate or not.
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Oct 11, 2022Very low key, but oh-so-listenable.
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Oct 19, 2022Nothing sounds belabored, nothing overthought. Sheff even allows himself to understate like never before..
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Oct 18, 2022Sheff’s distinct voice gives any of his projects a certain feel, but this record, created through much collaboration, sounds relaxed even if it mostly sticks to precise recording.
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MojoOct 11, 2022Nothing Special sometimes swims so far out of focus that it's difficult to share Sheff's vision, while at other times it surges and soars towards everything that was fascinating about Okkervil River. [Nov 2022, p.84]