By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Injury Reserve · 2021
41 min · 11 tracks
An experimental blend of hip-hop and avant-garde sounds that challenges traditional song structures while addressing personal and societal themes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Outside — The opening track sets an introspective tone for the album, blending haunting production with lyrical reflections on isolation and vulnerability.
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Superman That — This track features a dynamic interplay of rhythm and lyricism, encapsulating the group's signature style while delving into themes of identity and expectation.
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Smoke Don’t Clear — A standout moment on the album, this track combines poignant storytelling with a minimalist beat, allowing the lyrics to take center stage in conveying feelings of despair.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's experimental approach and thematic depth mark it as a significant entry in contemporary hip-hop.
What we noticed
- The album features unconventional song structures, with tracks often shifting tempos and styles mid-way through.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements alongside rapped verses, creating a layered narrative experience.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- 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
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
- challenging structures that provoke thought
- dynamic shifts in pacing and
- brief bursts of intense emotion
- reflective moments amidst chaos
- curated tracks for deep listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer predictable song formats
- seek immediate gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the Time I Get to Phoenix marks Injury Reserve's second studio album, following their self-titled debut in 2019. At this point, they were establishing themselves as innovative voices within the contemporary hip-hop landscape, grappling with the pressures of success and their artistic identity amidst significant industry attention.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Death Grips· JPEGMafia· Shabazz Palaces
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Outside 6:14
- 2 Superman That 2:40
- 3 SS San Francisco 3:51
- 4 Footwork in a Forest Fire 3:36
- 5 Ground Zero 2:25
- 6 Smoke Don’t Clear 2:30
- 7 Top Picks for You 4:32
- 8 Wild Wild West 2:28
- 9 Postpostpartum 4:10
- 10 Knees 5:03
- 11 Bye Storm 3:40
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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