Civilian

Wye Oak | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Merge Records
• ASIN: B004I65E4O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,370 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack return with their third album, Civilian. Civilian is a kind of 21st-century folk music, imbued with dense shoegaze guitars, nearly melodic rhythms, and impeccable splashes of electronic color. Without leaning on conventional structure, the songs beguile with fascinating chords and melodies, Jenn's voice and riveting lyrics, mesmerizing rhythms, and an intoxicating aural landscape. Jenn sums up the meaning of the album saying, "this collection of songs is called Civilian because I believe everyone wants to be normal, but no one truly is."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fewer ideas and directions would be better December 15, 2011

By loce_the_wizard VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I get why folks like Wye Oak but what I cannot figure is why everyone seems to love "Civilians." It is a good, but not great, recording. Jenn Wasner, who sounds quite a bit like Sonya Kitchell (which is meant as a compliment), shines on some songs but seems lost in the mix on others. Andy Stack, when restrained just a bit, handles the multi-instrumentalist role with aplomb, but I think things can quickly become too strident, throwing some songs, (e.g., Dogs Eyes, Wealth) off balance. Put another way, fewer ideas and directions would be better in many places. Once the melody meanders too far, it just is not that pleasant. And the track Plains meanders in a different way, sort of an aimless ramble that never gets anywhere.

That said, when Wye Oak nails a song, such as the title track, this duo shows its true strength and potential. This is one of those recordings I like well enough and I think it is worth a listen, though it ultimately does not completely satisfy as a recording that qualifies for a ringing endorsement.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Immersed in Civilian May 13, 2011

By Rachel

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

With Civilian, Wye Oak has mastered the art of creating songs that swell and progress to peaks of ultimate complexity. Many of the tracks begin with the spotlight placed squarely on Jenn's smooth, subtle, yet powerfully sultry vocals, only to have the mood tempered by distorted guitar riffs and resonating percussion. Although the general feel of the music is one of melancholy, the mesmerizing lyrics and diaphonous undertones keep the album from becoming too dark and burdensome. Heavy topics are approached with a sort of cautious intensity that carefully toes the line between drawing listeners in and pushing them over the edge.

The group has been tossed into the indie/lo-fi category--one that is overflowing with aesthetically similar musicians who ultimately have little in common, aside from their affinity for creating probing and consequential music. In a genre where anything goes, Wye Oak has responded by developing an entirely novel offering--from the introductory track's opening note to the album's final fade, there is nothing contrived or derivative to be found. Comparisons can be drawn to several of the band's contemporaries, from Rogue Wave to Pavement, but fans expecting a rehashed version of such artists' respective albums are in for an unanticipated treat.

Because Civilian is much more polished and produced than it's predecessors, it is more accessible. That being said, the band has stayed their direction, and their material has maintained the nuances and intricacies that brought them to the attention of so many discerning listeners. This album is a rarity, in that it will delight loyal fans and newcomers alike. The lyrical genius, gorgeous vocals, and singular instrumental arrangements make Civilian more than an experience of passive listening, but, as alluded to on the album's cover art, one more akin to musical immersion.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Will this be Wye Oak's breakthrough? March 8, 2011

By Heavy Theta

Format:Audio CD

(Do bands still have breakthroughs in today's incompetent music industry?) With their third album the Baltimore duo have found a sound that is not derivative, but genuinely haunting. While it is easy enough to categorize just about any group (shoegazing in this case?), it would not only callously overlook what is truly an original voice, something fairly rare these jaded later days of contemporary/alternative, but more importantly fail to appreciate the genuinely affecting experience of wrapping oneself into the sublime emotion offered here. Holy Holy, Doubt and the title track are each strong enough to gain airplay, so I hope that somehow this disc creates enough buzz to lend support to young artists who have discovered a connection to what deserves to be a decent run.