Bare
Wayne Hussey · 2008
77 min · 17 tracks · new wave
Intimate acoustic textures weave through heartfelt vocals, blending melancholy and nostalgia in a deeply personal collection.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
A Night Like This — This opening track sets an intimate tone with its haunting melody, encapsulating the album's emotional depth and personal storytelling.
-
→
With or Without You — Hussey's rendition gives a fresh perspective on this classic, revealing vulnerability through his emotive vocal delivery and poignant arrangement.
-
→
God Only Knows — This cover showcases Hussey's ability to reinterpret beloved songs, infusing it with his unique sensibility while maintaining its original beauty.
-
→
Shelter From the Storm — The song blends poetic lyrics with an evocative melody, highlighting Hussey's strengths in crafting atmospheric narratives that resonate deeply.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends intimate songwriting with varied arrangements, though its live tracks disrupt cohesion.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent acoustic guitar backing, while the second half introduces live tracks that shift the dynamic.
- Several tracks utilize layered vocal harmonies, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- The album's pacing slows significantly in the last three tracks, creating a reflective conclusion.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
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
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
- intimate acoustic storytelling moments
- melancholic reflections on relationships
- heartfelt vocals with nostalgic undertones
- live recordings capturing raw emotion
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy party tracks
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- In 2008, Wayne Hussey released 'Bare' as his first solo album after a lengthy career with The Mission and other projects. This album marks a significant transition to a more stripped-down, reflective style, showcasing Hussey's evolution as a songwriter following years of band dynamics.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Mission· Echo & the Bunnymen· The Cult
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
-
Keep It in the Family
The bridge introduces a poignant shift in perspective, revealing hidden tensions within familial relationships through vivid imagery.
This moment adds layers to the narrative by contrasting earlier themes of loyalty with the complexities of unsaid emotions.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 A Night Like This 3:40
- 2 Keep It in the Family 4:53
- 3 Black Mountain Mist 3:16
- 4 With or Without You 5:25
- 5 Shelter From the Storm 3:53
- 6 Garden of Delight 3:53
- 7 God Only Knows 4:00
- 8 Absolution 4:51
- 9 Stars Don't Shine Without You 2:55
- 10 My Funny Valentine 3:20
- 11 Bird of Passage 5:51
- 12 Grotesque 5:34
- 13 One Thing Leads to Another 4:47
- 14 Another Lonely Day (live) 4:55
- 15 Kingdom Come (live) 4:13
- 16 Ashes to Ashes (live) 5:51
- 17 All Tangled Up in You (live) 5:47
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.