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Oceans Will Rise
by The Stills

The Stills reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 64 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.5 out of 10
based on 13 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 22 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The Montreal band releases its third album on its new label Arts & Crafts.

LABEL: Arts & Crafts
RELEASE DATE: 19 August 2008
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Rock, Experimental

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
Alternative Press
It's by far the most readily accessible release in the A&C catalog and heightened the Stills anxieties to pathological levels, like setting bullet points from "An Inconvenuient Truth" to upbeat tunes. [Sep 2008, p.150]
80
Blender
It's done two good things for the Stills: sharpened their songwriting and returned them after a dull Album No. 2. to the crystalline guitar minimalism of their debut. [Sep 2008, p.84]
Read Full Review
80
All Music Guide
Oceans Will Rise is a return to form for the Stills, who've earned their merit as an experimental group with a strong knack for pop/rock hooks.
Read Full Review
78
Austin Chronicle
Production seals it all as taut and as giving as speaker mesh.
Read Full Review
70
Under The Radar
Nothing spectacular, but something long-lasting and reliable. [Fall 2008, p.84]
60
Urb
It’s a welcome return to “vintage” Stills, after an attempt at stylistic departure (2006’s "With Feathers") was met with lukewarm critical reception.
Read Full Review
60
PopMatters
In the end Oceans Will Rise strikes the listener as solid, appropriate, but not really that exciting
Read Full Review
60
NOW Magazine
The hooks and charm of their epic debut, "Logic Will Break Your Heart," were decidedly missing from their 2006 sophomore effort, "Without Feathers," but Oceans Will Rise marks a partial return to form for the Montreal quartet.
Read Full Review
58
Pitchfork
Oceans Will Rise is not a bad album, but it is very much the sound of a band still trying to figure out who they are--and in fairness, they have lost and gained a member since their first record. But three albums into a career, they should have a better idea than this.
Read Full Review
55
Prefix Magazine
On their appropriately (and doomily) titled third album, Oceans Will Rise, Montreal band The Stills address the end of the world in the only way they know how--with marginally catchy, heart-on-sleeve ballads that never hook up with their aspirations.
Read Full Review
50
Spin
Three albums in, the Stills still sound ambitiously confused.
Read Full Review
40
Uncut
The Stills remain a little too anonymous. [Dec 2008, p.116]
40
Q Magazine
Compentent and glossy, Oceans Will Rise sounds like a lot of effort has been expended for a rather meager retuyrn. [Dec 2008, p.135]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 22 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Stephen C. gave it a9:
People need to stop trashing 'without feathers', that is one great record. Problems is these reviewers only listen to it once, not like the people who appreciate it, the fans.

Joe R gave it a10:
Yes! The Stills are back. After a fairly disappointing change of direction for their last album - it took many spins and months for me to even like it - album #3 finds the band finally get the right footing. Combining the bestaspects of "Logic Will Break Your Heart" and "Without Feathers" into a unified sound, "Oceans Will Rise" is a solid, consistent winner. There's not a single track here I don't like. It's also nice to see Tim Fletcher back in the forefront of the band again, as I much prefer his singing to Dave Hamelin's - which was one of the other failings of the second album. I have no hesitation in proclaiming this one of the year's best!

Bill B gave it an8:
awesome noisy songs seem to cover up the songs of lesser strength, but still good!

Jen F. gave it a10:
This is a terrific CD . Can't understand some critics trying to demolish it . Ratings by the public have certainly proved them wrong. Well done lads ! Sir Paul McCartney did well to choose you to open his concert in Quebec city on July 20th.

George L. gave it a10:
Just love the hooks...This is back to the original sound of Logic will break your heart. Kudo guys!

John gave it a9:
Great songs. Very catchy!

R. B. gave it a10:
A superb album.

Read more user comments...

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