Brave Words
The Chills · 1987
43 min · 15 tracks · alternative rock
A vibrant blend of jangle pop and post-punk, infused with introspective lyrics and catchy melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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Rain — This track features intricate guitar work and a reflective mood that encapsulates the album's themes of introspection and emotional depth.
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Ghosts — With its haunting melodies and evocative lyrics, this song showcases the band's ability to blend melancholy with beauty, making it a standout on the album.
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House With a Hundred Rooms — The track's narrative structure and vivid imagery create a sense of longing and exploration, representing the lyrical strength found throughout the album.
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Creep — This song combines catchy hooks with a darker tone, highlighting The Chills' versatility while addressing themes of alienation and self-reflection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong melodies and varied dynamics but lacks a fully cohesive flow throughout its length.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks with jangly guitars, while the second half shifts to more introspective and slower tempos.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies that enhance the melodic quality, particularly in the choruses.
- The track 'House With a Hundred Rooms' includes a notable shift in dynamics, moving from quiet verses to a more explosive chorus.
- 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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7/10
- 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
- short bursts of catchy energy
- playful melodies for sing-alongs
- introspective moments with depth
- uplifting tunes for bright afternoons
- quick reflections on daily life
Maybe skip if you
- long, drawn-out listening experiences
- slow-paced, somber reflections
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1987, Brave Words was The Chills' second album, following their acclaimed debut, Kaleidoscope World. At this point, the band had solidified their sound and were gaining recognition in the emerging New Zealand music scene, contributing to the country's burgeoning alternative rock movement.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Bats· The Go-Betweens· The Clean
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Push 1:40
- 2 Rain 3:18
- 3 Speak for Yourself 1:58
- 4 Look for the Good in Others and They’ll See the Good in You 3:29
- 5 Wet Blanket 2:40
- 6 Ghosts 4:30
- 7 House With a Hundred Rooms 3:21
- 8 Party in My Heart 3:16
- 9 Living in a Jungle 1:23
- 10 Dan Destiny and the Silver Dawn 2:20
- 11 Night of Chill Blue 2:56
- 12 16 Heart-Throbs 3:51
- 13 Brave Words 1:34
- 14 Dark Carnival 3:36
- 15 Creep 3:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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