Now Only
by Mount Eerie
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 44
  3. Negative: 4 out of 44
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  1. NeutralMilkH
    Mar 21, 2018
    9
    More instrumentally complex than his last album while still maintaining that emotional energy from the real-life tragedy that he had to live through, Phil Elverum manages to bring us another beautiful work of art that stuns us and makes us laugh in its awkwardness... I'm certainly interested to see what there isn't to like about this album other than its somewhat elongated nature and theMore instrumentally complex than his last album while still maintaining that emotional energy from the real-life tragedy that he had to live through, Phil Elverum manages to bring us another beautiful work of art that stuns us and makes us laugh in its awkwardness... I'm certainly interested to see what there isn't to like about this album other than its somewhat elongated nature and the lack of "extreme" impact compared to "A Crow Looked at Me" (which isn't even a fair critique since these are two albums recorded at two different times as Phil was changing his perspective on the whole ordeal.)
    Final Score: 9/10
    Favorite Tracks: Two Paintings by Nikolai Astrup/Earth
    Conclusion: The optimistic, vibrant sequel to "A Crow Looked at Me," if you can't like any aspect of this album... not the whole thing, just an aspect... if you honestly can't give this higher than a zero, then you literally have no **** soul.    … Expand
  2. liammejia
    Mar 17, 2018
    10
    While not as raw, devastating, or gut-punching as it's predecessor, Now Only is certainly one of Phil Elverum's best albums - a thoughtful and emotionally powerful study on life in the wake of loss, and a loving tribute to his late wife.
  3. malevolentdonut
    Mar 19, 2018
    10
    it's a bit more energetic than its predecessor, you can feel phil beginning to come to terms with the tragedy, a way less foggy outlook than in a crow looked at me, i love all the tracks but i keep thinking about how good 'two paintings by nikolai astrup' is, with that chord progression that dominates a huge portion of the long song but somehow I still want to hear more of it, veryit's a bit more energetic than its predecessor, you can feel phil beginning to come to terms with the tragedy, a way less foggy outlook than in a crow looked at me, i love all the tracks but i keep thinking about how good 'two paintings by nikolai astrup' is, with that chord progression that dominates a huge portion of the long song but somehow I still want to hear more of it, very hypnotic. Overall it's a breathtaking album and I can't recommend it enough, and I can't wait to see what direction phil will take for the next album and I hope he's doing ok… Expand
  4. joshuaoehler
    Apr 13, 2018
    8
    A most revered form of purpose for any art form is the ability to provide some comfort to oneself, and others, by expressing the pain rawly felt in life. This album does that beautifully. It contemplates the time spent ticking away in life and all the energy expended living it.
  5. F0rZ3r0
    Apr 11, 2018
    7
    It's no Crow, that much can be said. While this continues to delve in on the impact of Genevieve's death on Phil, this is beginning to feel stretched on. This feels like a man telling you stories about his life to you and a mix of very hard-hitting thoughts Phil has had. In the end, I feel like this isn't as powerful as Crow, and feels like it's dragging on as I already said. The album hasIt's no Crow, that much can be said. While this continues to delve in on the impact of Genevieve's death on Phil, this is beginning to feel stretched on. This feels like a man telling you stories about his life to you and a mix of very hard-hitting thoughts Phil has had. In the end, I feel like this isn't as powerful as Crow, and feels like it's dragging on as I already said. The album has somewhat instrumentally improved over Crow, but not by much quite honestly.… Expand
  6. fwtll636
    May 12, 2018
    9
    It is obvious to anyone following Mount Eerie that this album is a continuation of his masterful 2017 release 'A Crow Looked at Me'. The songs follow a similar structure as before yet it breaks your heart all over again.
  7. All_ButTrU4
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    More light hearted than the devastation of "A Crow Looked At Me" but still as depressed. There's a recovery present in these songs that looks at everything through a grey lenses, death making him more grateful rather than dejected.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. The Wire
    Jul 12, 2018
    80
    It occasionally breaks into shocking moments of lo-fi howl, as on the 11 minute “Distortion”, which begins with a juddering, buzzsaw chord. The jumbled and constant flow of imagery emerges every now and then from the tumult of his guitar, so that one pulls the other in a different direction. [May 2018, p.54]
  2. Uncut
    Apr 19, 2018
    60
    The results are almost too intimate to bear. [Jun 2018, p.33]
  3. No Ripcord
    Apr 18, 2018
    80
    The themes still surround the passing of his wife Geneviève Elverum, but he allows some room to contemplate on what it means to begin to move forward. As opposed to the stiflingly spare Crow, Now Only is fairly more detailed, where he seeks for some equilibrium by revisiting the sullen drones of his past work.
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