Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird
by The Tallest Man on Earth
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Dec 8, 2010
    91
    A fine melodicist, Matsson quiets his fiery side on the Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird EP, but even when he's going the delicately pretty route, his songs aspire to greater heights.
  2. Paste Magazine
    Dec 8, 2010
    91
    There is distinct pastoral element at work in the Tallest Man on Earth's songs. He invokes the elements and the myriad forces nature: rivers, islands, rocks, clouds, birds, meadows, rainstorms, hail, forests, weeds, lilies and wheat.
  3. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Oct 25, 2010
    91
    With Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird EP, he does more than just add to his collection of tunes--he reaffirms his commitment to expressing the human spirit. And as identifiers with that spirit, we lean forward, eager to hear more.
  5. No Ripcord
    Dec 21, 2010
    90
    In many ways, his music is more punk than punk music is nowadays-stripped down completely to only the most basic and bare of instruments, the tiny Kristian Matsson manages to live up to his name as The Tallest Man on Earth.
  6. NOW Magazine
    Jan 7, 2011
    80
    Written and recorded on the road during a long North American tour supporting his recent full-length, The Wild Hunt, the five tracks maintain a consistently downtrodden tone.
  7. PopMatters
    Dec 8, 2010
    80
    Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird is still the sound of a man who's totally comfortable in his own skin. You're also likely to find great comfort across these five tracks.
  8. Alternative Press
    80
    Of these five tracks, only closer "Thrown Right At Me" is underwhelming, plain where it compatriots are--much like the great plains themselves--full of hidden idiosyncrasies despite outwardly appearing flat and one-dimensional.
  9. Pitchfork
    78
    Blues is as thoughtfully and carefully constructed as either of Matsson's albums, revealing the nuances of his sound and subtly putting the lie to the notion that he needs anything besides his weathered voice and beat-up guitar.
  10. Under The Radar
    Dec 23, 2010
    70
    Matsson's vocal might be an acquired taste, but together with minimal accompaniment, it's often captivating. [Year End 2010, p.74]
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  11. AllMusic
    Dec 20, 2010
    70
    The Tallest Man on Earth, keeps it sparse with a summertime EP of fingerpicked acoustic guitar and vocals, written on the road just after the release of The Wild Hunt.
  12. Sputnikmusic
    70
    Sometimes The Blues is Just a Passing Bird is a quieter set of songs, and an EP that continues to reveal both the talent and ambition of one of the most exciting folk artists of recent years.

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best Album of 2010

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
  1. FrancescoL
    Nov 11, 2010
    10
    yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssyessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss… Full Review »
  2. GSWstatic
    Feb 23, 2022
    10
    leave it to TMOE to make one of the strongest Eps of the last 30 years out of spare bangers he was worried didn't fit in with wild hunt. theleave it to TMOE to make one of the strongest Eps of the last 30 years out of spare bangers he was worried didn't fit in with wild hunt. the dreamer remains his rock star moment that ends every show and rightly so. Little river and like a wheel mange to be both dark and uplifting at the same time the way he actss this record out with his voice is flawless a masterwork… Full Review »
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