Arrow
Heartless Bastards · 2012
51 min · 10 tracks · blues rock
A blend of gritty blues rock and introspective lyrics, creating an atmospheric soundscape filled with longing and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Marathon — Opening the album, this track establishes a reflective tone with its slow build and dynamic shifts, encapsulating the themes of perseverance and self-discovery.
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The Arrow Killed the Beast — This title track combines haunting melodies with poignant lyrics, effectively illustrating the internal struggles that define much of the album's narrative.
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Low Low Low — With its driving rhythm and raw energy, this song stands out as a powerful anthem about confronting adversity and finding strength in vulnerability.
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 production but doesn't significantly stand out in its genre.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks maintain a driving tempo, while the fourth introduces a slower, more reflective pace that continues through much of the album.
- Several songs feature layered guitar textures that create a rich, atmospheric backdrop for the vocals.
- The lyrics often employ vivid imagery and personal themes, with a focus on longing and resilience throughout the record.
- 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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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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- introspective moments of reflection
- gritty vocals for cathartic release
- for evening drives
- wave-like pacing for engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, upbeat tracks
- seek standalone singles experience
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 2012, Arrow marked Heartless Bastards' fourth studio album and followed their acclaimed record, The Mountain. At this point, the band solidified their reputation for merging powerful vocals with evocative songwriting, showcasing a matured sound that reflected both personal and artistic growth.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Black Keys· Sharon Van Etten· Neko Case
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Marathon 6:09
- 2 Parted Ways 4:57
- 3 Got to Have Rock and Roll 3:55
- 4 Only for You 5:08
- 5 Simple Feeling 4:34
- 6 Skin and Bone 4:00
- 7 The Arrow Killed the Beast 6:31
- 8 Late in the Night 3:59
- 9 Low Low Low 5:03
- 10 Down in the Canyon 7:35
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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