24 Carrots
Al Stewart · 1980
60 min · 14 tracks · pop music
A blend of reflective storytelling and melodic craftsmanship, weaving together historical themes with contemporary pop sensibilities.
Top tracks — play these first
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Midnight Rocks — This track stands out for its catchy melody paired with lyrics that reflect on fleeting moments and the passage of time, encapsulating the album's introspective tone.
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Murmansk Run / Ellis Island — A sprawling narrative piece that combines historical context with emotional resonance, highlighting Stewart's storytelling prowess and musical ambition.
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Rocks in the Ocean — The song captures a sense of longing through vivid imagery and metaphor, representing the thematic core of the album's exploration of memory and existence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong narratives and varied arrangements but lacks tight cohesion throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong, driving rhythm in 'Running Man', which sets a brisk pace that is maintained through the first half.
- Several tracks feature intricate arrangements with layered instrumentation, particularly in 'Midnight Rocks' and 'Merlin's Time'.
- The lyrics often incorporate historical references, creating a narrative depth that unfolds over the course of the album.
- The final track, 'Princess Olivia', slows down significantly, providing a reflective conclusion to the album's themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- layered, dense sonic textures
- contemplative storytelling moments
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Fan Favorite — Beloved by fans for its storytelling and thematic depth, though not a primary entry point.
- Career context
- By 1980, Al Stewart was transitioning into a new phase of his career following the success of his previous album, 'Year of the Cat', released in 1976. '24 Carrots' marked his seventh studio album, showcasing his continued evolution as a songwriter while embracing a more polished production style. This album came during a period where Stewart was expanding his audience and artistic reach in the pop music landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cat Stevens· James Taylor· Paul Simon
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Murmansk Run / Ellis Island
The shift from recounting a maritime mission to reflecting on immigrant experiences creates a poignant contrast.
This structural choice emphasizes the interconnectedness of history and personal stories, serving as a microcosm of broader human experiences.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Running Man 5:11
- 2 Midnight Rocks 3:56
- 3 Constantinople 4:41
- 4 Merlin's Time 2:45
- 5 Mondo Sinistro 3:07
- 6 Murmansk Run / Ellis Island 7:15
- 7 Rocks in the Ocean 5:13
- 8 Paint by Numbers 5:31
- 9 Optical Illusion 3:28
- 10 Here in Angola 4:38
- 11 Indian Summer 3:34
- 12 Pandora 4:38
- 13 Delia's Gone 2:53
- 14 Princess Olivia 3:22
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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