Artificial Heart
Jonathan Coulton · 2011
47 min · 18 tracks · folk rock
Playful folk rock melodies intertwine with witty narratives and introspective lyrics, showcasing a unique blend of humor and vulnerability.
Top tracks — play these first
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Artificial Heart — This title track encapsulates the album's exploration of identity and humanity through the lens of technology, presenting a catchy melody paired with thought-provoking lyrics.
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Still Alive — As a nod to his breakout hit from Portal, this track remains a fan favorite, highlighting Coulton's signature blend of humor and poignancy amidst darkly comedic themes.
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Want You Gone — 'Want You Gone' serves as both a sequel to 'Still Alive' and a reflection on past relationships, showcasing Coulton's ability to fuse narrative depth with engaging melodies.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends humor with heartfelt songwriting but lacks strong cohesion and depth for repeated listens.
What we noticed
- Several songs incorporate playful instrumentation, such as ukulele and piano, which complement the witty lyrics and narratives.
- The track 'Still Alive' is positioned towards the end, serving as a nod to Coulton's earlier work while also providing a sense of closure to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- 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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5/10
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
- witty introspection for thoughtful listeners
- steady pacing for casual enjoyment
- sing-along moments with friends
- short tracks for quick bursts
- lighthearted themes with deeper meanings
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of lengthy epics
- prefer intense emotional highs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Artificial Heart is Jonathan Coulton's first album released after his significant rise to fame following the viral success of Still Alive in 2007. By 2011, he was well-established as a prominent figure in the geek rock scene, leveraging crowdfunding and digital platforms for his music distribution. This album marked a continuation of his exploration into personal themes and clever storytelling.
- Stylistic neighbors
- They Might Be Giants· Ben Folds· Johnathan Rice
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Glasses
The perspective shifts from self-reflection to addressing societal expectations about appearances directly challenges norms regarding beauty.
This shift in focus not only critiques superficial judgments but also empowers individuality by emphasizing personal choice over external validation.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Sticking It to Myself 2:19
- 2 Artificial Heart 2:33
- 3 Nemeses 3:02
- 4 The World Belongs to You 2:11
- 5 Today With Your Wife 2:57
- 6 Sucker Punch 1:42
- 7 Glasses 2:47
- 8 Je suis Rick Springfield 2:28
- 9 Alone at Home 2:02
- 10 Fraud 3:00
- 11 Good Morning Tucson 2:28
- 12 Now I Am an Arsonist 2:53
- 13 Down Today 2:22
- 14 Dissolve 2:58
- 15 Nobody Loves You Like Me 2:19
- 16 Still Alive 4:15
- 17 Want You Gone 2:22
- 18 The Stache 3:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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