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10.0
37956
10.0 |
Scotland on Sunday
Like an enema for all those clogged up by too much contrived mainstream fodder
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9.0
37363
9.0 |
Blurt
A cinematic journey that opens doors into a multi-textured; intermittently sublime, parallel universe
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8.3
37319
8.3 |
A.V. Club
In its hunt for instinctual performance, comes close to the classic album Shearwater surely has in it
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8.2
37362
8.2 |
Paste Magazine
By combining the group’s most noticeable skills from the past and developing surprising new musical attacks, Shearwater has set a new standard for itself
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8.0
37271
8.0 |
AU Review
Animal Joy shatters the dreamlike spell of its predecessors and gives in to more rock-orientated impulse
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8.0
37273
8.0 |
DIY
Animal Joy is, for lack of a better word, rich and textured, packed to the brim with a dense, congealed instrumentation alongside the elegantly high vocals of Meiburg
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8.0
36895
8.0 |
Uncut
The sound of Americana meshing its cogs with the machinery of the world outside its grimed window. Print edition only
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8.0
36896
8.0 |
Mojo
A set of Anglophile songs, bookish and gently melancholic. Print edition only
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8.0
37645
8.0 |
Clash
While it’s hardly the straightforward “rock” record the band had previously hinted they might make, it’s easily their most accessible
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8.0
37926
8.0 |
The Observer
Affixes twisted blue-collar rock to the kind of free-form pop perfected by Talk Talk, resulting in a contender for their boldest LP yet
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8.0
37947
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Though harder, happier and a little more direct, Animal Joy is above all a Shearwater record: swooping, eloquent, concerned with nature. You could maybe accuse it of being a touch AOR, but frankly that suits the immensity of the band’s sound
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8.0
38077
8.0 |
God Is In The TV
Animal Joy is a big record, sonically big. It’s less raw, more polished than much of the Okkervil sound and perhaps explains why Shearwater aren’t quite the mainstream success – comparitively speaking – that Okkervil River undoubtedly are
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7.5
38954
7.5 |
hhv.de mag
Jonathan Meiburg is back – with a band, which outside the circle of the usual critics just didn’t get the deserved attention, and with an album that could finally change that
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7.5
37467
7.5 |
Bowlegs
It may have an unashamedly 80s epic edge to it, but there are also timeless qualities that will help this album stand the test of time
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7.0
37489
7.0 |
Under The Radar
We’re listening to a band shedding their heavy coat after a long winter and braving forward into a brighter spring
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7.0
37698
7.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Meiburg’s regal, commanding baritone sounds like it should be attached to the lead in The Phantom of the Opera
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7.0
36894
7.0 |
musicOMH
Meiburg’s voice is a thing of rare range and beauty, but it seems the band have yet to settle on the best way to maximise its formidable gifts
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7.0
37132
7.0 |
Prefix
A big album built on small parts. Its size can be a bit much towards the end but on the whole its another strong set from Shearwater
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7.0
40573
7.0 |
Rave Magazine
It’s meticulously arranged and often devastatingly beautiful, but at the same time, it feels like a lie to say this deft technical facade and measured melodrama passes for an honest record
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7.0
38208
7.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
Animal Joy adds sentiment to intellect, an undefined rebellion to Shearwater’s heady songwriting
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6.9
37460
6.9 |
Pitchfork
Both emotionally and sonically, they're taking their best shot at meeting new listeners halfway
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6.6
38505
6.6 |
Beats Per Minute
The melodramatic yet undeniable power of Shearwater has remained intact, but it is difficult to imagine that we will still be listening in a few years if they don’t begin to veer slightly from the template that most of this album relies on
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6.0
38534
6.0 |
State
Won’t mark any major breakthrough for Shearwater but will add to an already fine cannon of songs
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6.0
38287
6.0 |
The Digital Fix
Whilst their transitional album isn’t all that likely to leave behind a more transcendent joy, these tunes have the potential to be hummed for weeks afterwards
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6.0
38380
6.0 |
The Quietus
Instead of a coherent collection of songs, Animal Joy feels like a series of very clever blueprints that, while admirable in form, are often (despite that title), rather bloodless
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6.0
38163
6.0 |
The Skinny
It's a solid if somewhat polished collection of songs that confirms Meiburg is a lyricist of considerable talent
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6.0
37085
6.0 |
NME
May herald a bold new incarnation
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6.0
37293
6.0 |
PopMatters
Stripping away layers of orchestration and drama, the record exposes a muscular guitar- and drum-based simplicity lurking underneath, to mostly successful, albeit far more understated results
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6.0
37401
6.0 |
Q
Enough to rouse any stadium from its slumbers. Print edition only
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