Conditions of My Parole
Puscifer · 2011
51 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock
Ethereal soundscapes blend with heavy beats and introspective lyrics, creating a surreal sonic journey through personal struggles.
Top tracks — play these first
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Tiny Monsters — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its haunting melodies and vivid imagery, encapsulating themes of fear and introspection. Its atmospheric production invites listeners into the complex world Puscifer creates.
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Telling Ghosts — This track features an intricate layering of vocals and instrumentation, creating an almost hypnotic effect that underscores its exploration of memory and loss. The emotional depth here showcases Keenan's lyrical prowess.
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Conditions of My Parole — As the title track, it succinctly expresses the album's overarching themes of self-examination and personal boundaries. The concise structure paired with poignant lyrics makes it a standout moment.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends atmospheric soundscapes with heavy beats and narrative lyrics, showcasing strong artistic ambition.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow build in 'Tiny Monsters', layering ethereal synths over a steady beat, setting a contemplative tone.
- Tracks often feature abrupt transitions, such as the shift from the introspective 'Telling Ghosts' to the more aggressive 'Man Overboard'.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements, which create a narrative quality and enhance the thematic depth of personal struggles.
- 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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7/10
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, consistent energy levels
- layered, dense sonic textures
- late-night contemplative moods
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Highlights artistic ambition and cohesive sound, often seen as a high point in their catalog.
- Career context
- Released in 2011, Conditions of My Parole is Puscifer's third studio album, following their 2007 release, V is for Vagina. At this point in their career, the band had solidified its identity as a side project of Maynard James Keenan, exploring themes of existentialism and personal reflection. This album further showcased their eclectic sound, mixing elements of alternative and industrial rock.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Tool· A Perfect Circle· Nine Inch Nails
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Telling Ghosts
The narrative shifts from reflective to confrontational as the protagonist grapples with unresolved emotions that haunt them.
This transition not only heightens the emotional stakes but also reflects the inner conflict central to the album's themes.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Tiny Monsters 4:44
- 2 Green Valley 3:55
- 3 Monsoons 4:17
- 4 Telling Ghosts 4:49
- 5 Horizons 3:29
- 6 Man Overboard 4:19
- 7 Toma 3:40
- 8 The Rapture (Fear Is a Mind Killa mix) 6:14
- 9 Conditions of My Parole 2:54
- 10 The Weaver 4:40
- 11 Oceans 3:43
- 12 Tumbleweed 4:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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