Hummingbird

Local Natives - Hummingbird
Critic Score
Based on 31 reviews
2013 Ratings: #280 / 1115
User Score
Based on 333 ratings
2013 Rank: #161
Liked by 22 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

93
Paste

From the first sung note of Hummingbird, Local Natives are frank in their presentation of a serious album, challenging listeners to heal along with them; cognizant that investment is proportional to remuneration.

90
Consequence of Sound

Hummingbird proves that these guys are maturing into a sound that’s both singular and wrenching with severity.

85
Beats Per Minute

Less ends up becoming more, as Hummingbird relinquishes its treasures piece by piece with a sort of unhurried charm. 

85
The 405
Musically, they have never been more confident but at their core they have never been more honest.
83
Pretty Much Amazing

At first, the eleven songs melt together into an indie rock haze, punctuated by riffs of guitar and howling harmonies, but with time, patience, and a second listen, the album reveals itself to be something much more complex.

81
Pitchfork

This is a record of lateral growth, one that finds the band establishing their own place among their contemporaries.

80
Drowned in Sound

If Gorilla Manor was immediately satisfying with its youthful scuffle, the denser, layered instrumentation and songwriter here provides a more substantial reward rooted in repeated listens, rather than a quick fling.

80
Q Magazine
The deeper emotions being stirred this time around fans out to several other highlights.
80
The Young Folks
There are haunting and subtly powerful vocals, sturdy guitar playing that keeps the band afloat, but it’s all of the components put together than make it such a listenable CD.
80
Spill Magazine

This album’s definitely a grower. Though it sometimes feels like Local Natives haven’t completely settled into their own skin while the band continues to search for a signature sound, this dissonant sonic evolution is a welcome one, and is an encompassing listen.

80
The Observer
Opener You & I setting the tone, all unhurried melancholia topped by Kelcey Ayer's soaring vocal. Elsewhere, they show they're equally adept at the euphoria in which Arcade Fire deal.
80
The Independent
There is no shortage of shimmery songcraft here.
80
Exclaim!

On the surface, it sounds like Local Natives have dialled down those sunshine bursts of joyous chants and guitars, and, for the most part, there are fewer handclaps and the harmonies are more subdued.

80
Under the Radar

They may be shifting the weight of the world onto their collective shoulders, but it hasn't dampened their energy a bit. 

80
musicOMH

The band’s sophomore album is a clear progression from Gorilla Manor, retaining the soaring harmonies from their debut, while experimenting with a more expansive and emotive sound.

80
PopMatters

For all its sadness, Hummingbird manages to craft a friscalating, sun-setting, post-adolescence in the rear-view mirror. 

80
NME

On ‘Hummingbird’ there’s a fresh depth and consideration, as well as some barefaced emotion, which has evidently rubbed off from time spent with the cult Ohio band of ‘High Violet’, ‘Boxer’ and ‘Alligator’ fame. 

80
SPIN

Moments so raw and lovely justify both their efforts and your efforts in surviving the occasionally oppressive nature of their efforts.

75
Entertainment Weekly

The follow-up sometimes feels like it’s coasting down a long but not-so-steep hill, with warm synth melodies and soaring choruses stretching out forever. Still, it’s a lovely ride.

70
No Ripcord

Hummingbird sure has an ample amount of sentiment, balanced in between moments of grave frustration and passive reflection. 

70
AllMusic
Local Natives still showcase a knack for frenetic, percussive segments and layered vocal harmonies that feature lead singer Taylor Rice's evocative croon.
70
Slant Magazine

Despite its differences with Gorilla Manor, Hummingbird isn't a challenging or experimental album by any means, instead offering a host of moody, chasmal tracks characterized by trickling, chiming melodies and vocalist Kelcey Ayer's resilient falsetto.

70
Rolling Stone
Kelcey Ayer vents pillowy angst in vivid detail as minimalist synth surges and push-pull drum rumble rough up his dove-winged melodies.
67
A.V. Club

Hummingbird is an album of hidden rewards, a record to pick and choose tracks from in order to purvey a single feeling or contribute to the perfect mixtape. What it’s not, though, is a cohesive, compelling whole.

65
Northern Transmissions
Local Natives haven’t given birth to a koala, but Hummingbird does suffer from lapses of lethargy when it should remain wide awake.
60
Uncut
Only the lovely, finger-picking folk of "Ceilings" and the pulsating "Breakers" approach the perkiness of their breakout single, "Airplanes."
60
Spectrum Culture

It’s a good album, one that is pleasant enough to listen to and is quite competently written, performed and produced. Nevertheless, there’s something missing that keeps it out of that awe-inspiring class of great. While listening to Hummingbird, one has the nagging feeling that one has heard it all before.

60
The Irish Times
Their second album isn’t as instantly persuasive, but Hummingbird consistently and intriguingly smoulders rather than immediately blazes into life.
50
The Needle Drop
On its second full-length album, Local Natives still sits in the shadow of bands like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, which is something even the band's most hardcore fans are willing to admit.
50
Alternative Press
"Black Balloons" is built on a riff exactly like Bon Iver's "Perth" sped up, and hearing the grating lyrical wail of "Columbia" and you're left wondering if so much time away was a result of writer's block.
SnowyFighter
80

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

This is really good! Hell yea. Catchy hooks, passionate performances, good production, and great writing. It just about matched the quality for their debut for me. I think my favorite on here is for sure Mt Washington. So unbelievably catchy yet melancholy, I just love it. I also have definitely heard the song before, but never realized what or who it is. So hearing that kind of hit me with a wave of nostalgia. You & I is also a really great opener, I got super lost ... read more

rego
91

#26 of re-reviews (redoing past album reviews from way back when)

i kinda forgot re-reviews existed for a while so now here i am again to destroy your feed with this review. i hope you enjoy :)

this album is one of the weird cases in my life. it appeared as a recommendation with apple music and in pitchfork with an 8.1 in bold, just begging for me to try it. this was when i added music from post-punk acts as well as everything fantano and pitchfork approved into my library and not many indie ... read more

94

Oh wow, 100th time listening to this but it hit hard this time

Essential Tracks: Heavy Feet, Black Balloons, Breakers

maruzumbi
80

I found it moving, though i think it drags at some points.

halfgold
68

bro can rly hold a note. good part of the songs on are a very pretty and his voice is quite impressive but i still can’t help but feel like someno this stuff drags but a little. the instrumentals are hit or miss and if just always feel as impactful as i feel like it could but it still had a few songs that i genuinely enjoyed. don’t think i’ll really be coming back to this one much though

VideoGameAholic
50

I only like Mt. Washington

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Track List

1You & I
4:21
87
2Heavy Feet
4:06
87
3Ceilings
2:56
83
4Black Spot
4:41
74
5Breakers
4:09
82
6Three Months
4:30
66
7Black Balloons
3:07
72
8Wooly Mammoth
3:26
73
9Mt. Washington
3:18
90
10Colombia
4:50
73
11Bowery
4:36
75
Total Length: 44 minutes
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4mo


Added on: October 18, 2012