Becoming a Jackal

Studio album by

Released

24 May 2010

Length

44:28

Label

Domino

Producer

Conor J. O'Brien

Villagers chronology

Becoming a Jackal
(2010)

Awayland
(2013)

Becoming a Jackal is the debut album by the Irish rock group Villagers. In 2010 it was nominated for the Mercury Prize.^[1] Vinyl editions of the album contain 2 discs, with tracks on the first three sides and an etching on the fourth.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.7/10^[2]
Metacritic	78/100^[3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[4]
The Daily Telegraph	^[5]
The Guardian	^[6]
The Irish Times	^[7]
Mojo	^[8]
NME	8/10^[9]
Pitchfork	6.9/10^[10]
Q	^[11]
Rolling Stone	^[12]
Uncut	^[13]

The album received positive reviews, and holds a Metacritic score of 78 out of 100, based on 16 reviews.^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Saw the Dead"	5:04
2.	"Becoming a Jackal"	3:19
3.	"Ship of Promises"	4:36
4.	"The Meaning of the Ritual"	3:14
5.	"Home"	4:41
6.	"That Day"	3:10
7.	"The Pact (I'll Be Your Fever)"	3:28
8.	"Set the Tigers Free"	3:22
9.	"Twenty Seven Strangers"	3:24
10.	"Pieces"	5:28
11.	"To Be Counted Among Men"	4:43
Total length:		44:28

Chart positions

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Irish Independent Albums (IRMA)^[14]	1

References

^ Topping, Alexandra (20 July 2010). "Mercury prize shortlist sees return of banjos but barely a beard in sight". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
^ "Becoming A Jackal by Villagers reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Reviews for Becoming A Jackal by Villagers". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
^ Monger, James Christopher. "Becoming a Jackal – Villagers". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ McCormick, Neil (14 May 2010). "Villagers: Becoming a Jackal, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ Swash, Rosie (20 May 2010). "Villagers: Becoming a Jackal". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ Boyd, Brian (14 May 2010). "Villagers". The Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ "Villagers: Becoming a Jackal". Mojo (200): 92. July 2010.
^ Harris, Tessa (24 May 2010). "Album review: Villagers – 'Becoming A Jackal' (Domino)". NME. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ Hogan, Marc (11 June 2010). "Villagers: Becoming a Jackal". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ "Villagers: Becoming a Jackal". Q (288): 137. July 2010.
^ Dolan, Jon (8 June 2010). "Becoming a Jackal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
^ "Villagers: Becoming a Jackal". Uncut (157): 106. June 2010.
^ "Top 10 Independent Artist Albums, Week Ending 20 May 2010". Chart-Track. GfK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2013.