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The Crane Wife
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The Crane Wife Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 161 Ratings

  • Summary: 'Crane Wife' marks the literate, Colin Meloy-led band's major label debut.

Top Track

The Crane Wife 1 and 2
It was a cold night And the snow lay low I pulled my coat tight Against the falling down And the sun was all And the sun was all down And the sun was... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. The A.V. Club
    100
    The songs brim with melodic ideas, but the album never overwhelms, because Meloy doesn't try to pack every minute with words and hooks.
  2. ShakingThrough.net
    92
    The Crane Wife is an album that nicely fits into the Decemberists' universe and has roots in earlier works, but sounds -- and hangs together -- better than any of them.
  3. Urb
    90
    This is an amazing, innovative, storytelling record that takes you on [a] fantastic, fun trip. [Oct 2006, p.118]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. The Guardian
    80
    It is all as self-consciously stagey as a Wes Anderson movie - too arch and florid to really engage the heart, but bold and wondrous entertainment none the less.
  5. Blender
    80
    The most tightly hook-larded, colorfully produced, listenable Decemberists record to date. [Nov 2006, p.138]
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  6. AllMusic
    70
    Some cuts, like the English murder ballad "Shankill Butchers" and "Summersong"... sound like outtakes from previous records, but by the time the listener arrives at the Donovan-esque (in a good way) closer, "Sons & Daughters," the less tasty bits of The Crane Wife seem a wee bit sweeter.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    Sometimes you wish Meloy would just put away his studied thesp-schlock and say, "Man, I'm sick of singing about Victorian peasants. I got dumped once. I want to write about that..." [27 Jan 2007, p.31]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 91
  3. Negative: 3 out of 91
  1. moonman1994
    Dec 15, 2012
    10
    Simply an amazing album. Pretty much every song is great. I remember first seeing the list of songs and seeing that there were two songs thatSimply an amazing album. Pretty much every song is great. I remember first seeing the list of songs and seeing that there were two songs that were both over ten minutes long and was skeptical as to how any song could be that long without boring the listener. However, I was pleasantly surprised by their quality. This album is just amazing. Worth the money for sure!… Expand
  2. IdalecioC
    Oct 17, 2006
    10
    I just give it a 10 because of O Valencia! ...without that it would be a 8-9
  4. JohnF
    Nov 6, 2006
    10
    After much deliberation and close examination, I have decided that this is the best album of the year thus far and the best album the After much deliberation and close examination, I have decided that this is the best album of the year thus far and the best album the Decemberists have ever made.… Collapse
  5. AndrewP
    Oct 15, 2006
    9
    Its about the songs; the harmonies, the hooks, the arrangements. Meloy is a true storyteller, in the sense that his characters become the Its about the songs; the harmonies, the hooks, the arrangements. Meloy is a true storyteller, in the sense that his characters become the songs. The best album of the year thus far.… Expand
  6. jtc
    Dec 1, 2007
    9
    This album is the bomb. Gets better every time I listen to it. If you like good original (yet accessible) music and songwriting, you'll This album is the bomb. Gets better every time I listen to it. If you like good original (yet accessible) music and songwriting, you'll like this album. If you don't, you won't.… Expand
  7. AndyD
    Nov 27, 2006
    8
    Good album, boring at times.
  8. NONo
    Jun 13, 2008
    0
    Somethings terribly wrong... how can a crap band like this get raved reviews?

See all 91 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best Album of 2006
27
#27 Most Discussed Album of 2006
37
#37 Most Shared Album of 2006

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