Top tracks — play these first
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Feel (Hot single mix) Start here — This track served as the lead single and encapsulates the album's modern pop sensibility while echoing Chicago's signature sound with its catchy hooks and vibrant instrumentation.
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King of Might Have Been — A standout ballad that showcases the band's lyrical introspection and rich vocal harmonies, representing the emotional core of the album.
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Love Will Come Back — This track highlights Chicago's traditional jazz influences with a contemporary twist, blending smooth melodies and poignant lyrics about hope and resilience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases polished horn arrangements and melodies but lacks standout compositions and depth.
What we noticed
- Each track maintains a polished production quality, with layered instrumentation that emphasizes both the horns and melodic vocals.
- The first half of the album has a more upbeat tempo, while the latter half shifts to slower ballads, altering the emotional landscape as it progresses.
- 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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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- 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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- long, immersive listening sessions
- contemplative evening reflections
- smooth melodic transitions
- emotional storytelling journeys
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Revitalizes Chicago's sound after a six-year gap, showcasing their adaptability.
- Themes
- modern love stories· introspective ballads
- Career context
- Released in 2006, Chicago XXX marked the band's first studio album in six years, following 2003's 'Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus.' At this point in their career, Chicago was revitalizing their sound while maintaining their classic style, aiming to attract both longtime fans and new listeners.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Earth, Wind & Fire· Steely Dan· Blood, Sweat & Tears
Tracklist
- 1 Feel (Hot single mix) Start here 4:01
- 2 King of Might Have Been 3:52
- 3 Caroline 3:39
- 4 Why Can't We 4:07
- 5 Love Will Come Back 3:48
- 6 Long Lost Friend 4:33
- 7 90 Degrees and Freezing 3:52
- 8 Where Were You 4:17
- 9 Already Gone 6:51
- 10 Come to Me, Do 4:36
- 11 Lovin' Chains 3:56
- 12 Better 4:41
- 13 Feel (w/Horns) 4:30
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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