Barometer Soup
Jimmy Buffett · 1995
54 min · 12 tracks · country music
A sun-soaked blend of country rock and soft melodies reflecting wanderlust and laid-back living.
Top tracks — play these first
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Barometer Soup Start here — The title track captures the essence of the album with its easygoing rhythm and metaphorical lyrics about life's unpredictability, setting a reflective tone for listeners.
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Barefoot Children — This song evokes a carefree spirit, celebrating the joys of youth and simplicity while embodying Buffett's signature narrative style that resonates with fans longing for escape.
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Diamond as Big as the Ritz — With its whimsical storytelling and rich imagery, this track showcases Buffett's clever lyricism and ability to weave fantasy into everyday life, making it a standout on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends country rock with storytelling lyrics, maintaining a cohesive tropical vibe throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features a prominent steel guitar, setting a laid-back tone that persists throughout.
- Several tracks incorporate Caribbean rhythms and instrumentation, particularly in 'Barefoot Children' and 'Mexico', enhancing the tropical feel.
- The lyrics often reflect themes of escapism and adventure, with storytelling elements present in songs like 'Remittance Man' and 'Ballad of Skip Wiley'.
- The final track, 'Mexico', serves as a closing anthem that revisits earlier motifs, creating a sense of circularity in the album's narrative.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
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 relaxation
- sun-soaked coastal vibes
- for afternoon lounging
- sing-along with friends
- nostalgic summer road trips
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- need immediate emotional intensity
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A solid entry in his catalog, reflecting his established sound without being a standout.
- Themes
- coastal nostalgia· carefree summer days· Fitzgerald-inspired whimsy
- Career context
- By the time 'Barometer Soup' was released in 1995, Jimmy Buffett had established himself as a cultural icon with multiple successful albums. This record followed his commercial peak in the late '70s and early '80s, during which he perfected his beach-bum persona and storytelling style, solidifying his fan base in the realm of escapist music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Kenny Chesney· Zac Brown Band· Alan Jackson
Tracklist
- 1 Barometer Soup Start here 4:58
- 2 Barefoot Children 4:54
- 3 Bank of Bad Habits 3:53
- 4 Remittance Man 5:59
- 5 Diamond as Big as the Ritz 5:20
- 6 Blue Heaven Rendezvous 4:03
- 7 Jimmy Dreams 3:40
- 8 Lage Nom Ai 3:44
- 9 Don't Chu-Know 3:49
- 10 Ballad of Skip Wiley 4:34
- 11 The Night I Painted the Sky 5:32
- 12 Mexico 4:08
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Foundation
Zac Brown Band
Shares a similar blend of country and folk with themes of relaxation and camaraderie.
Brushfire Fairytales
Jack Johnson
Captures a laid-back coastal vibe with acoustic melodies and storytelling lyrics.
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
Kenny Chesney
Embodies a carefree beach lifestyle through country rock and sun-soaked themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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