Amanda Palmer & Friends Present Forty-Five Degrees: Bushfire Flash Record
Amanda Palmer · 2020
39 min · 8 tracks · alternative rock
A raw blend of poignant lyrics and eclectic instrumentation echoing the urgency of environmental activism.
Top tracks — play these first
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Beds Are Burning — This cover of Midnight Oil's classic anthem highlights the urgency of climate action, resonating deeply with the album's themes of environmental crisis.
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Suck It Up, Buttercup — This original track combines dark humor with sharp social commentary, reflecting personal resilience amid collective trauma caused by climate events.
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Truganini — An evocative retelling of Indigenous history, this song powerfully connects the past struggles of Aboriginal Australians to contemporary issues of land and identity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends covers and originals to address urgent themes, showcasing distinctiveness in its approach.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a cover of 'My Favorite Things' that incorporates environmental themes, setting a tone of urgency.
- Tracks alternate between original songs and covers, creating a varied sonic landscape while maintaining a cohesive message.
- Several tracks feature spoken word segments interspersed with music, emphasizing the lyrical content and political themes.
- The final track, 'Regional Echo,' serves as a reflective conclusion, contrasting the more energetic earlier songs.
- 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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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
- steady mid-tempo urgency
- poignant reflections on activism
- engaging sing-along moments
- thoughtful storytelling and themes
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening
- seek instrumental background music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- In 2020, Amanda Palmer was navigating her career as an independent artist after a successful crowdfunding campaign for her previous album, 'There Will Be No Intermission.' This release followed her exploration of political themes and community engagement, reflecting her ongoing commitment to activism in the wake of devastating Australian bushfires.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Regina Spektor· Tori Amos· Fiona Apple
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Suck It Up, Buttercup
The bridge shifts from ironic humor to a moment of stark vulnerability, revealing the weight of despair behind the playful tone.
This transition underscores a deeper emotional complexity, contrasting levity with gravity in a way that invites listeners to confront uncomfortable truths.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 My Favorite Things (Bushfire edition) 3:08
- 2 Beds Are Burning 4:42
- 3 The Drover’s Boy 4:52
- 4 Black Smoke 4:06
- 5 Suck It Up, Buttercup 8:53
- 6 Truganini 4:42
- 7 Solid Rock 4:29
- 8 Regional Echo 4:50
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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