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Directions To See A Ghost
by The Black Angels


7.4

based on 17 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The sophomore album for the Austin, Texas band was produced by Erik Wofford.

LABEL:	Light in the Attic
RELEASE DATE:	13 May 2008
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rock, Alternative

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...

Prefix Magazine

Its muscular confidence and stylistic purity make it a must-listen for the psychedelically inclined, as well as an easy candidate for one of the best records of the year.

PopMatters

Some progression and distinction from "Passover" to Directions to See a Ghost is discernable over the unremitting low-end vibrations, some tweaks to the combustive chemistry as it was previously established.

Billboard

The breakdowns on songs like "Dee-Ree-Shee" and "You in Color" truly highlight each member's technical and dynamic abilities; the crescendos emphasize their quantum power to make great art as a group.

Magnet

Musically, all the touchstones that made "Passover" so riveting are in place. [Summer 2008, p.96]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

It's kind of samey, sure--but in a formalist genre, that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

All Music Guide

This is the sort of psychedelia that space rockers and Nuggets fans alike can come together over.

The New York Times

The songs on the band’s second album, Directions to See a Ghost (Light in the Attic) linger over one chord, perhaps two, and an unswerving beat, which doesn’t mean there’s no variety.

Austin Chronicle

Whereas "Passover" came wired with explosives, Ghost airs out its thrust with mercenary inevitability.

Pitchfork

If you isolate any random 45 seconds of Directions to See a Ghost's 70 minutes, you'll definitely be compelled to listen for another few minutes--after which time you'll probably start waiting for a solo or a shift in tone that might not even come.

Urb

With many songs over four minutes and often consisting of blantantly stoned self-indulgent "jams," some trimming is needed.

Uncut

It's dark, powerful and groovy, but some more variety wouldn't go amiss. [July 2008, p.90]

Q Magazine

While it makes for an impressive sound, it's hard not to yearn for more than the occasional flirtation with a second dimension, such as the sitar-driven 'Deer-Ree-Shee ' or the heavy riffed Krauturock-inspired groove that serves as the second half of 'Never/Ever.'

Under The Radar

Directions may not hit with the same weight as "Passover," but it is certainly a worthy follow-up. [Summer 2008]

Mojo

Undeniably grandiose as the Black Angels may be, the unrelenting darkness becomes too claustrophobic; even the Velvets sometimes let the sunshine in. [Aug 2008, p.113]

Drowned In Sound

By no means an awful record, but certainly a disappointing one.

Spin

Ghost drowns in Spacemen 3-like drone, feedback, and reverb until the tunes congeal into a deliberately muddy, impenetrable trance. [June 2008, p.104]

The Guardian

The band call their dark noise "hypno-drone'n'roll", but they could do with less drone, more roll.

The average user rating for this album is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Charlie Q. gave it a10:
Some of the very best hard-edged, pure psychedelic drone you're likely to hear this year.

Dom H. gave it a9:
Sure, the black angels aren't to everyone's taste, and some may deem them to be an anachronism, but it's hard to deny that what they do, they do well. To the converted, enjoy the shivers that DTSAG will send down your spine.

Roger M. gave it a1:
Repetitive and boring, more of the same like the first record, just without any catchy songs or hooks.

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Directions To See A Ghost by The Black Angels

Directions To See A Ghost
by The Black Angels