Top tracks — play these first
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Blueprints for a Blackout Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of societal collapse and resistance with its frenetic energy and biting lyrics, making it a standout statement.
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Rabble With a Cause — This track captures The Ex's raw punk roots while infusing an urgent call to action, highlighting their commitment to activism through music.
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A Plague to Survive — With an unsettling atmosphere and haunting melodies, this song articulates feelings of despair while critiquing societal norms, showcasing the band's artistic depth.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's innovative sound and political lyrics create a distinctive art rock experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a medley that combines two distinct tracks, setting a chaotic tone that persists throughout.
- Many tracks feature abrupt tempo changes and dissonant melodies, reflecting the album's themes of chaos and resistance.
- Lyrical content is politically charged, often delivered in a fragmented manner that complements the fractured musical style.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- 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
Significant within its genre. 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
- wave-like pacing with intensity shifts
- short bursts of frenetic energy
- dynamic flow with varied intensity
- sharp lyrics provoking thought
- engaging two-halves listening experience
Maybe skip if you
- prefer long, uniform tracks
- seek smooth, consistent melodies
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Innovative sound and political commentary mark this album as a high point in their artistic journey.
- Career context
- By the time 'Blueprints for a Blackout' was released in 1984, The Ex had established themselves as a prominent force in the Dutch punk scene. This album followed their earlier work, showcasing their evolution from a straightforward punk band to a more complex art rock ensemble, incorporating diverse influences and experimental sounds.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Shellac· The Flying Lizards· Don Caballero
Tracklist
- 1 Streetcars Named Desire/Animal Harm (Medley) 2:39
- 2 Blueprints for a Blackout Start here 3:53
- 3 Rabble With a Cause 2:19
- 4 Requiem for a Rip-Off 2:52
- 5 Pleased to Meat You 4:16
- 6 A Goodbuy to You 3:38
- 7 The Swim 1:47
- 8 Boohoo 2:28
- 9 U.S. Hole 2:41
- 10 (Not) 2B Continued 1:09
- 11 Grimm Stories 4:52
- 12 A Plague to Survive 5:22
- 13 The Rise of the Dutch Republic 3:53
- 14 Kidnap Connection 2:16
- 15 Fire and Ice 4:41
- 16 Jack Frost Is Innocent 2:53
- 17 Love You Till Eh 2:47
- 18 Food on 45 3:17
- 19 Scrub That Scum 8:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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