Although The Meaning of 8 is wrought with beautiful moments - quasi symphonic passages, touching vocal melodies, invigorating (but never abrupt) dynamic shifts - the album's imperfections are what perhaps best exemplifies Cloud Cult's textural agenda.  Full text...

The Meaning of 8 is, in all, another successful outing for Cloud Cult. And for those unfamiliar with the band’s organic experimentation, this is as good an entry point as any. Take a listen to “The Deaf Girl Song” or “Chemicals Collide”, and invest in a new, eminently worthy musical interest.  Full text...

On Cloud Cult's sixth album in seven years, The Meaning of 8, founding singer-songwriter Craig Minowa remains both tormented and inspired by the 2002 death of his infant son, Kaidin. Excess has always been part of Minowa's unique brilliance, and this album is still overstuffed with enough concepts, instrumentation, and emotional climaxes for cathartic collectives like the Arcade Fire or Danielson. At the same time, The Meaning of 8 underscores that what made previous Cloud Cult releases so powerfully affecting was not just Minowa's grief, but also his eccentricities.  Full text...

It reminds mostly of Eels' similarly good-not-great Blinking Lights and Other Revelations.  Full text...