What makes A Short Album About Murder by Styrofoam notable?

The album garnered critical acclaim for its unique blend of genres and exploration of dark themes, often cited as a notable entry in the indie rock scene of the early 2000s. It has influenced subsequent artists within the genre and remains a significant work in Styrofoam's discography, reflecting a trend towards more narrative-driven songwriting in indie music. Released in 2001, A Short Album About Murder marked Styrofoam's second studio effort, following their debut, Nothing's Lost. At this point in their career, the band was beginning to establish a distinctive sound that melded electronic elements with indie rock, showcasing their artistic development and thematic focus on mortality and existential dread.

How many songs are on A Short Album About Murder?

A Short Album About Murder has 7 tracks, running approximately 37 minutes.

A Short Album About Murder

Styrofoam

37 min · 7 tracks · indie rock

Ethereal melodies intertwine with dark, introspective lyrics, creating an unsettling yet captivating atmosphere throughout the album.

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Top tracks — play these first

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No Matter What — This track opens the album with haunting melodies and establishes the thematic tone of existential inquiry that permeates the record.
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If You Tell Me the Truth, I Will Kill You — The song's juxtaposition of intimate confessions against chilling declarations highlights Styrofoam's deft storytelling and emotional complexity.
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There Is No Rest — Its atmospheric layering and reflective lyrics encapsulate the album's overarching themes of despair and introspection, offering a compelling sonic experience.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album effectively blends electronic elements with indie rock, creating a unique sound that rewards multiple listens.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of layered electronic textures that complement the ethereal melodies throughout.
Each track typically follows a verse-chorus structure, but often includes unexpected shifts in dynamics and tempo.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 No Matter What 5:51
2 Snowblind 2:56
3 It's Just That We Don't Show It 6:28
4 Bad Night Is Falling 3:26
5 If You Tell Me the Truth, I Will Kill You 4:56
6 There Is No Rest 4:23
7 By Anybody Else I Mean You 9:13

What to play next

Listen next

The Point Misser

Go back to

I'm What's There to Show That Something's Missing

Full Styrofoam discography Artists like Styrofoam

indie rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata