Almost Always Never
Joanne Shaw Taylor · 2012
64 min · 12 tracks · blues
A soulful blend of blues-rock with heartfelt lyrics and powerful guitar solos that evoke a raw emotional landscape.
Top tracks — play these first
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Beautifully Broken — This track features poignant lyrics that delve into vulnerability and resilience, anchored by Taylor's emotive vocal performance and intricate guitar work.
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Army of One — With its driving rhythm and empowering message, this track exemplifies Taylor's fusion of traditional blues with modern rock sensibilities.
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Almost Always Never — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of longing and introspection, showcasing Taylor's ability to convey deep emotion through both lyrics and melody.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and skilled guitar work, with a solid blend of emotional depth and musical variety.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks prominently feature extended guitar solos that serve as emotional peaks within the songs.
- The lyrics across multiple tracks explore themes of love and heartache, often reflecting a personal narrative.
- 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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7/10
- 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
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- soulful moments for evening relaxation
- reflective listening on rainy days
- powerful guitar riffs energizing sessions
- thoughtful introspection during quiet nights
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification tracks
- prefer short standalone songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2012, Almost Always Never is Joanne Shaw Taylor's third studio album, following her breakthrough album, Diamonds in the Dirt. This record showcases her evolution as an artist, highlighting her growing confidence and skill as a guitarist and songwriter, solidifying her place in the contemporary blues scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Susan Tedeschi· Joe Bonamassa· Keb' Mo'
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Soul Station 6:16
- 2 Beautifully Broken 5:48
- 3 You Should Stay, I Should Go 4:09
- 4 Piece of the Sky 3:51
- 5 Army of One 5:15
- 6 Jealousy 6:49
- 7 Almost Always Never 3:50
- 8 Tied & Bound 6:11
- 9 A Hand in Love 3:39
- 10 Standing to Fall 6:47
- 11 Maybe Tomorrow 6:32
- 12 Lose Myself to Loving You 5:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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