Top tracks — play these first
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Soon All Cities Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its dynamic rhythms and layered instrumentation, embodying the album's exploratory spirit and thematic depth.
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The Heart Conductor — With its intricate arrangements and emotive delivery, this track showcases the band's ability to weave complex narratives into their music.
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New Blank Document — This song features a compelling juxtaposition of noise and melody, illustrating the band's knack for blending disparate elements into a cohesive whole.
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Four Billion Tulip Bulbs — Closing the album, this track encapsulates its overarching themes of transience and renewal through vivid imagery and engaging musical motifs.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases inventive structures and varied instrumentation, reflecting The Ex's unique approach to art rock.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a driving rhythm in 'Soon All Cities', establishing a high-energy post-punk feel that persists through the first half.
- The final track, 'Four Billion Tulip Bulbs', features an extended instrumental section that gradually fades out, contrasting with the more structured earlier tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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
- steady pacing with intricate rhythms
- poignant explorations of emotional landscapes
- vibrant soundscapes for deep listening
- consistent journey with dynamic peaks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek standalone singles experience
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Features a blend of post-punk and avant-garde, showcasing a departure from earlier sounds.
- Career context
- By the time '27 passports' was released in 2018, The Ex was well into their fourth decade of existence, known for their innovative fusion of punk rock and experimental music. This album came after a series of collaborative projects and marked a continuation of their growth as a band that seeks to challenge musical norms while addressing socio-political issues.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Shellac· The Flying Lizards· Don Caballero
Tracklist
- 1 Soon All Cities Start here 6:27
- 2 The Heart Conductor 4:49
- 3 This Car is My Guest 6:35
- 4 New Blank Document 7:17
- 5 Silent Waste 2:36
- 6 Piecemeal 6:56
- 7 Birth 4:24
- 8 Footfall 5:01
- 9 The Sitting Chins 5:27
- 10 Four Billion Tulip Bulbs 7:09
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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