Barking at Airplanes
Kim Carnes · 1985
56 min · 13 tracks · country music
Synth-driven pop rock meets country-infused storytelling, creating a vibrant soundscape that captures the spirit of mid-80s Americana.
Top tracks — play these first
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Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) Start here — This title track showcases Carnes' signature raspy vocals and combines infectious melodies with vivid imagery about nocturnal adventures, making it a standout hit.
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He Makes the Sun Rise (Orpheus) — This song highlights Carnes' ability to weave emotional narratives through rich lyrics and soaring choruses, revealing her prowess as a storyteller.
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Make No Mistake, He's Mine (Solo version) — This track's introspective lyrics and heartfelt delivery encapsulate themes of love and ownership, showcasing Carnes’ vocal depth and emotional range.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends pop rock and country elements effectively but lacks standout depth in songwriting.
What we noticed
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the pop-rock feel.
- The album includes a notable shift in instrumentation on track six, where the arrangement becomes more stripped back, emphasizing the storytelling aspect.
- 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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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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 reflective vibe
- longing melodies for introspection
- headphone detail hunting moments
- for evening drives
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer instant gratification sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Carnes' mainstream recognition after her earlier success.
- Themes
- nocturnal adventures· mid-80s Americana· emotional storytelling
- Career context
- Released in 1985, Barking at Airplanes was Kim Carnes' sixth studio album, following her commercial breakthrough with Mistaken Identity in 1981. At this point in her career, Carnes was solidifying her reputation as a versatile artist blending pop and country influences, navigating the evolving music landscape of the 1980s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Toni Childs· Linda Ronstadt· Pat Benatar
Tracklist
- 1 Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) Start here 3:34
- 2 One Kiss 3:31
- 3 Begging for Favors (Learning How Things Work) 4:52
- 4 He Makes the Sun Rise (Orpheus) 4:28
- 5 Bon Voyage 4:39
- 6 Don't Pick Up the Phone (Pick Up the Phone) 4:24
- 7 Rough Edges 4:43
- 8 Abadabadango 3:58
- 9 Touch and Go 4:48
- 10 Oliver (A Voice on the radio) 3:49
- 11 I Am a Camera 5:11
- 12 Make No Mistake, He's Mine (Solo version) 4:13
- 13 Forever 3:57
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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