American Rubicon
Cobra Skulls · 2009
36 min · 17 tracks · punk rock
A frenzied blend of punk rock energy and sharp political commentary delivered with infectious hooks and relentless tempo.
Top tracks — play these first
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There’s a Skeleton in My Military Industrial Closet — This track exemplifies the album's biting social critique through its clever wordplay and catchy melody, making it a standout in both lyrical content and musicality.
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H.D.U.I. (Honorary Discharge Under the Influence) — The song combines humor with a serious message about personal accountability, showcasing the band's ability to balance punk energy with thoughtful commentary.
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Thicker Than Water — With its anthemic chorus and themes of loyalty and resistance, this track captures the essence of the punk ethos while remaining accessible and engaging.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines energetic punk with incisive lyrics, creating a solid yet familiar sound within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tempo, maintaining high energy through the first half.
- Lyrical themes focus on political and social issues, with several tracks featuring sharp commentary delivered in a conversational style.
- The last three tracks slow down slightly, providing a moment of reflection before concluding the album.
- 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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6/10
- 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 energy for quick bursts
- social commentary with sharp wit
- short tracks for focused listening
- repetitive hooks for easy sing-alongs
- urgent themes for active engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer long, immersive tracks
- seek slow, introspective moods
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When Cobra Skulls released American Rubicon in 2009, they were establishing their presence in the punk rock scene following their 2007 album, Happy Hours. This record marked a significant step forward in their lyrical maturity and musical tightness, showcasing a clearer and more focused identity amid the shifting dynamics of the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Against Me!· The Menzingers· Pennywise
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Time and Pressure 2:31
- 2 There’s a Skeleton in My Military Industrial Closet 2:29
- 3 Rebel Fate 2:52
- 4 Muniphobia 1:06
- 5 Thicker Than Water 2:00
- 6 H.D.U.I. (Honorary Discharge Under the Influence) 2:33
- 7 Overpopulated 2:45
- 8 Problems With Preconceptions 3:04
- 9 Willful State of Denial 1:50
- 10 I Used to Like Them When They Put Cobra in the Titles 0:32
- 11 Bad Apples 1:44
- 12 Timing 1:45
- 13 Back to the Youth 2:09
- 14 Dead Inside 1:48
- 15 Agree to Disagree 2:03
- 16 One Day I’ll Never 2:25
- 17 Exponential Times 2:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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