Okemah And The Melody Of Riot
by Son Volt
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Jul 12, 2005
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The New York Times
    60
    The band's underlying, stubborn seriousness, and nearly Amish unwillingness to change, creates its appeal. [11 Jul 2005]
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  2. Rolling Stone
    60
    Okemah replaces Farrar's indulgence with a gently rocking back-porch feel. [28 Jul 2005, p.82]
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  3. Uncut
    60
    For every inspired turn, there's an insubstantial one, while some merely appear sluggish. [Aug 2005, p.96]
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  5. Mojo
    60
    By focusing on the temporal, he reduces himself to simple protest music rather than timeless folk. [Aug 2005, p.104]
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  6. Blender
    40
    He's never tried so actively to fuse prescriptive politics into [the] mix, and the move feels suspect. [Aug 2005, p.115]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 2 out of 30
  1. JeffT
    Jan 2, 2006
    10
    "Rock and roll around my head alive a kicking" Jay Farrar writes phrases and lyrics that are both simple and layered with complex meaning. "Rock and roll around my head alive a kicking" Jay Farrar writes phrases and lyrics that are both simple and layered with complex meaning. Listen to this album three times and you'll be hooked.… Full Review »
  2. RobertS
    Dec 9, 2005
    10
    Great album! Easily Jay's best since Trace. What blows me away as much as this release is that it can be given a negative review!? Rock Great album! Easily Jay's best since Trace. What blows me away as much as this release is that it can be given a negative review!? Rock critics never cease to amaze. Some can give this a bad review and then rave about a collection of bleeps and whistles with lyrics that make absolutely no sense (can you say - Emporer's New Clothes). Omekah is no fraud, its a damn great rock album! Boo Blender, boo MOJO!… Full Review »
  3. JorinR
    Nov 26, 2005
    8
    This is the best REM album since Reckoning!
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