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Critic Reviews
90
Shook is Algiers’ finest record to date; the album that they have always promised to deliver. It’s an exhilarating, genre-defying thrill ride.
3y
90
More of an experience than a set of songs, Shook's stunning, often harrowing journey of surviving and resisting is well worth taking.
3y
90
Weathered yet unflinchingly defiant, ‘Shook’ is the result of a band operating at the peak of their powers.
3y
84
Shook isn’t so much a reinvention as it is a clarification; it’s the sound of a band with so much to say that they need to find multiple ways to say it.
3y
80
Three years since their last album, the Anglo-American outfit’s latest is full of invention, creativity and a stellar list of guest names.
3y
80
Expansive and exhilarating, political and deeply personal, Shook rewards the attention it demands.
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3y
80
At the very least, Algiers present a welcome antidote to mainstream rap’s craven materialism. Brimming with both spiritual depth and astonishing musical dexterity, Shook feels contemporary and important, reflecting America’s present-day diversity and letting the disenfranchised speak.
3y
80
The album's urgency and purpose is irresistible; there's a riot goin' on, and Algiers just lit the touchpaper.
3y
77
With a crew of equally radical peers in tow, the Atlanta band’s new album is a dissonant but hopeful statement about dreaming up a better world.
3y
70
If previous Algiers albums were incendiary warning flares, Shook is more of a community firework display; there’s a little more joy and hope when the smoke clears.
3y
70
Some of these experimental mash-ups feel ungainly, but when their chemistry ignites, Algiers sound indestructible.
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3y
70
It would be easy to write off parts of Shook as too overwrought, too abstract, or too experimental. The numerous spoken-word passages and free-jazz soundscapes certainly don’t lend themselves to easy listening.
3y
65
The careening patchwork often sounds like the band loses track.
3y
60
The band attempts to blend a number of disparate musical genres, but the result is often less than the sum of the parts.
3y
60
Algiers blend everything they’ve ever been and more into their latest album, but lose something of their focus in the process.
3y
60
Those willing to wade through the shifting tones and textures may find their reward. Consider Shook an example of auditory excess plied with aural intrigue.
3y
60
One gets the vaguest sense that Shook is meant to inspire hope in the face of despair. Unfortunately, that hope is intangible for the majority of the album’s runtime.
3y
NO NUANCE REVIEW
Could have been great if the more lackluster moments were cut, but the worthwhile moments make it an engaging listen. Plus, Zack de la Rocha, billy woods, and Backxwash are on the same record - that alone deserves your time
AAAAHHH I'm so tired today. I don't know if it's so normal to be so tired almost every single day except the weekends basically. Anyway, in terms of this album I'm happy that Algiers are finally back with something that is actually really interesting! This is really an great mixture of rock, industrial, hip-hop and post-punk music! Well, not every track is fantastic, there are probably too many tracks in here but at least the band itself remains unique in the sphere of alternative rock music ... read more
I am dumb and I don't get it
There is some really interesting sonic experimentation going on here and I like the features and the politically charged lyrics. But overall, these sings don't go anywhere and failed to move me whatsoever. Maybe on a relisten I might grow to appreciate this album more but a lot of tracks just refuse to go anywhere remotely exciting.
interesting record with some moments of brilliance and moments of questioning why it was done
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Track List
| 1 | Everybody Shatter 4:46 feat. Big Rube | 73 |
| 2 | Irreversible Damage 4:42 feat. Zack de la Rocha | 82 |
| 3 | 73% 2:37 | 76 |
| 4 | Cleanse Your Guilt Here 1:34 | 67 |
| 5 | As It Resounds 1:20 feat. Big Rube | 61 |
| 6 | Bite Back 6:00 feat. billy woods, Backxwash | 79 |
| 7 | Out of Style Tragedy 3:12 feat. Mark Cisneros | 67 |
| 8 | Comment #2 0:38 | 54 |
| 9 | A Good Man 2:17 | 74 |
| 10 | I Can't Stand It! 3:25 feat. Samuel T. Herring, Jae Matthews | 81 |
| 11 | All You See Is… 1:06 | 59 |
| 12 | Green Iris 6:17 | 74 |
| 13 | Born 1:26 feat. LaToya Kent | 64 |
| 14 | Cold World 4:18 | 75 |
| 15 | Something Wrong 4:53 | 68 |
| 16 | An Echophonic Soul 2:32 | 65 |
| 17 | Momentary 3:23 feat. Lee Bains | 69 |
Total Length: 54 minutes
Year End Lists
| #32 | / | Louder Than War |
| #36 | / | PopMatters |
| #41 | / | Hot Press |
| #43 | / | Treble |
| #53 | / | The Quietus |
| / | AllMusic |
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1y
Starting as a post-punk band and then just straight up becoming experimental hip hop is such a fun idea, I feel like it's often the other way around but I love it either way
