Top tracks — play these first
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Along the Way — This track encapsulates the band's signature blend of folk melodies and dramatic orchestration, showcasing an introspective narrative that resonates throughout the album.
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Blessing in Disguise — Combining poignant lyrics with sweeping string arrangements, this song highlights the band’s ability to weave personal stories into expansive soundscapes.
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New World — With its powerful build and evocative lyrics, this track serves as a climactic conclusion to the album, reflecting themes of hope and renewal.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends orchestral and folk elements with emotional songwriting, creating a distinct sound that stands out in its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a cinematic instrumental track that sets a dramatic tone, followed by songs that incorporate both orchestral elements and traditional folk instrumentation.
- The use of multiple languages in the lyrics adds an additional layer of cultural depth and variety across the 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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7/10
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
- cinematic soundscapes for storytelling
- rich emotional textures to explore
- reflective moments of quiet beauty
- short bursts of vibrant energy
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, upbeat tracks
- want straightforward structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- A Mad & Faithful Telling is DeVotchKa's fourth studio album, following their breakthrough release, How It Ends, which gained significant attention in the indie music scene. By this point in their career, they had solidified their unique sound and were exploring more ambitious arrangements and themes, showcased through this album’s diverse instrumentation and lyrical storytelling.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Lumineers· Sufjan Stevens· Iron & Wine
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Blessing in Disguise
The narrative shifts from despair to acceptance, revealing a new perspective on past struggles.
This transition not only underscores the album's overarching theme of resilience but also demonstrates the songwriter's skill in crafting a journey within a single song.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Basso Profundo 5:14
- 2 Along the Way 4:01
- 3 The Clockwise Witness 4:37
- 4 Head Honcho 3:45
- 5 Comrade Z 2:24
- 6 Transliterator 4:31
- 7 Blessing in Disguise 5:49
- 8 Undone 5:03
- 9 Strizzalo 1:30
- 10 New World 5:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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