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Northern Passages Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The 10th full-length release for the Canadian alt-country band features a guest appearance from Kurt Vile.
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Top Track

The Good Years
She'll take his secrets to her grave She has no memory of him she'd like to say She's had to live with the decisions that he made For oh so many... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Feb 13, 2017
    100
    Northern Passages shines as yet another jewel in their crowning achievements, setting hope against hope, that it’s follow-up won’t take as long to arrive next time.
  2. Feb 10, 2017
    83
    On Northern Passages, their 10th studio album, The Sadies cut 11 fresh paths through well-trodden territory. Because band-leading brothers Dallas and Travis Good have made adaptability their defining characteristic, they’re best served when bigger personalities take the helm.
  3. Feb 9, 2017
    80
    All Sadies albums feel like instalments in an ongoing saga of an incredible band who've been playing forever, and Northern Passages is no exception.
  4. Mojo
    Feb 9, 2017
    80
    The tenth album from the fabulous Sadies is up there with the best. [Mar 2017, p.93]
  5. Magnet
    Feb 14, 2017
    75
    The peculiar genius of the Sadies is to find new variations on a sonic model that, by this point, no other band is working with quite as much earned confidence. [No. 139, p.59]
  6. Feb 28, 2017
    70
    Northern Passages is The Sadies' Aurora Borealis, or at least the way back through it. And the light is just a little more brilliant, the sky just a little more cerulean because of it.
  7. 60
    While others in the Americana field get stuck in a groove, that will never be a problem with the Sadies and Northern Passages is a worthy entry in the notable catalog of a now-veteran act who refuse to be pigeonholed.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Feb 23, 2017
    9
    The Sadies have been a long time favorite of mine for years. This could be their best album. The self produced album recorded in theirThe Sadies have been a long time favorite of mine for years. This could be their best album. The self produced album recorded in their parents basement has some of their best lyrics and song writing to date. As usual, the musicianship is stellar. Expand