Burning for You
Strawbs · 1977
40 min · 11 tracks · progressive rock
Melodic progressive rock intertwines with intricate storytelling, showcasing lush arrangements and emotive vocal performances.
Top tracks — play these first
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Burning For Me Start here — This track highlights the album's core theme of longing and desire, capturing listeners with its haunting melody and evocative lyrics.
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Heartbreaker — A standout ballad that encapsulates emotional vulnerability, featuring rich harmonies and instrumentation that elevate its heartfelt narrative.
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Alexander The Great — This track weaves historical storytelling with intricate musical composition, demonstrating the band's knack for blending narrative depth with progressive rock elements.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends melodic hooks with progressive elements, showcasing strong songwriting and varied arrangements.
What we noticed
- The album includes recurring melodic motifs that are revisited throughout different songs, creating a sense of thematic continuity.
- 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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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- 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 journey
- poignant storytelling with lush melodies
- introspective listening for quiet moments
- consistent flow for focused sessions
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone track variety
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album marked a return to the studio with notable chart success, enhancing their recognition.
- Themes
- historical storytelling· emotional longing· commercial transition
- Career context
- By 1977, Strawbs was transitioning into a more commercial sound following their widely acclaimed album 'Hero and Heroine'. 'Burning for You' marked their return to the studio after a brief hiatus and continued their exploration of complex themes within a more accessible framework, reflecting both artistic maturity and evolving fan expectations.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Burning For Me
The bridge introduces a poignant shift in perspective that deepens the emotional weight of yearning throughout the song.
This moment enhances the narrative by transforming the song from a mere expression of desire into a reflective contemplation on love's complexities.
Tracklist
- 1 Burning For Me Start here 4:01
- 2 Cut Like A Diamond 3:46
- 3 I Feel Your Loving Coming On 2:57
- 4 Barcarole (For The Death Of Venice) 3:29
- 5 Alexander The Great 3:59
- 6 Keep On Trying 3:14
- 7 Back In The Old Routine 3:18
- 8 Heartbreaker 4:38
- 9 Carry Me Home 3:28
- 10 Goodbye (Is Not An Easy Way To Say) 3:49
- 11 Joey & Me - Previously Unreleased 3:28
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Moonmadness
Camel
Shares lush arrangements and complex storytelling with a melodic progressive rock approach.
A Trick of the Tail
Genesis
Features intricate compositions and emotional depth, reflecting a transition in their sound and narrative focus.
Going for the One
Yes
Combines emotive vocals with sophisticated musical structures, exploring themes of longing and introspection.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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