Cracked Rear View
Hootie & the Blowfish · 1994
46 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock
A blend of heartfelt storytelling and catchy melodies, merging alternative rock with a distinctly Southern charm.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hold My Hand — This track showcases the band's unique blend of rock and country influences, with an infectious chorus that helped propel its popularity on radio playlists.
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Let Her Cry — The emotional depth of this ballad resonates with listeners through its poignant lyrics about heartbreak and longing, highlighting the band's lyrical prowess.
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Only Wanna Be With You — With its laid-back vibe and clever wordplay, this track became an anthem of youthful love and carefree moments, encapsulating the spirit of the era.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features catchy melodies and storytelling but lacks deep compositional complexity.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a consistent mid-tempo feel, while the latter half introduces slower ballads that create a contrast.
- Several tracks feature layered harmonies and call-and-response vocals, particularly in the choruses, enhancing their catchiness.
- 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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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- 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
Significant within its genre. 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
- heartfelt storytelling focus
- laid-back reflective moments
- emotional peaks and valleys
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1994, Cracked Rear View was Hootie & the Blowfish's debut album, marking their entry into mainstream music. The album came after the band built a following in college towns, and it catapulted them into commercial success, eventually becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Counting Crows· Gin Blossoms· Matchbox Twenty
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Hannah Jane 3:33
- 2 Hold My Hand 4:15
- 3 Let Her Cry 5:08
- 4 Only Wanna Be With You 3:46
- 5 Running From an Angel 3:37
- 6 I’m Goin’ Home 4:10
- 7 Drowning 5:01
- 8 Time 4:53
- 9 Look Away 2:38
- 10 Not Even the Trees 4:37
- 11 Goodbye 4:05
- 12 Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 0:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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