Makers
by Rocky Votolato
  • Record Label: Barsuk
  • Release Date: Jan 24, 2006
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    60
    Votolato has a lot to offer as a musician, but his songwriting veers into stale territory too often over the course of 12 songs, neglecting to pull itself from its many holding patterns in time for salvation.
  2. Paste Magazine
    60
    There isn't much to distinguish him from a million other talented but interchangeable coffe-shop-circuit troubadours. [Feb/Mar 2006, p.95]
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  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    Proof that you can take the boy out of the emo band, but you can't take the emo out of the boy.
  5. Pitchfork
    42
    Unfortunately, bare-bones arrangements, train songs, and good intentions are no shortcut to supposed authenticity, and still less are they a guarantor of overall quality.
  6. Magnet
    40
    On Makers, Votolato rarely digs deep enough to scar, and he tends to wander where he thinks inspiration might live instead of letting it find him. [#70, p.110]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. TravisB
    Feb 5, 2006
    10
    this album is beautiful. much more personal, insightful and poigniant than his earlier albums, even though those albums are terriffic. The this album is beautiful. much more personal, insightful and poigniant than his earlier albums, even though those albums are terriffic. The critic reviews are complete bullshit here, the pitchfork review even spelled half of the songs wrong and it sounded like he never even really listened to the record. This is a great album for a rainy day, a long drive, or just to reflect. Makers is probably one of my favorite songs ever written.… Full Review »
  2. NChandler
    Feb 1, 2006
    8
    For some reason, something about Rocky Votolato has always caused many critics problems. I recall the band Waxwing being referred to as For some reason, something about Rocky Votolato has always caused many critics problems. I recall the band Waxwing being referred to as "emo-stigmatized." Pretty strange, I never thought of them as anything more than a rock band. Either way, It is obvious that Rocky V is far too genuine for many people to handle, and is often looked at as being contrived, repetative, un-original, etc. Interestingly, in Pitchfork's terrible review of the album, they mention the song "Crabtree & Evelyn" from Burning My Travels Clean, probably the single worst song he has ever written. This man is not perfect and he does not claim to be. All one needs to do is listen to the lyrics of Rocky's self-titled album, which is amazing, to see where this man is coming from, and many years later, i do not think his aesthetic or his music has drastically changed. Some of the lyrics on Waxwing's "One for the Ride," (another album that Pitchfork hated) truly had meaningful affects on my life for many years after originally hearing them. Rocky's music is for people who know that they are trapped and that there isn't any way out, but who are still passionate and emotional about life and willing to keep working and fighting despite the impossible odds. This may not be the best album of the year or something that will win awards or blow people away with catchy riffs and lyrics and trendy stylistic nuances, but it's really good stuff and I will be listening to it for a long time to come.… Full Review »
  3. Andy
    Jan 30, 2006
    6
    A dissapointing album from one of my favirote songwriters. A Brief History is still his best, followed by Suicide Medicine. This album is A dissapointing album from one of my favirote songwriters. A Brief History is still his best, followed by Suicide Medicine. This album is just a little too repetitive and, quite frankly, boring at times.… Full Review »
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