Dance on the Blacktop cover

Dance on the Blacktop

Nothing · 2018

43 min · 9 tracks · alternative rock

A swirling blend of shoegaze and alt-rock, layered with introspective lyrics and a heavy atmospheric presence.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Zero Day — The opening track effectively sets the tone for the album with its haunting melodies and raw emotional weight, establishing both sonic and thematic groundwork.
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    Plastic Migraine — This track stands out due to its frenetic energy and evocative lyrics that vividly illustrate struggles with modernity and existential angst.
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    (HOPE) Is Just Another Word With a Hole in It — The closing track encapsulates the album's overarching themes of hopelessness through its expansive instrumentation and poignant lyrical reflections.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong atmospheric elements and varied dynamics, though it follows familiar shoegaze patterns.

What we noticed

  • The first three tracks build a dense wall of sound with layered guitars and reverb, creating an immersive atmosphere.
  • Tracks often feature abrupt transitions, such as from the heavy instrumentation of 'Plastic Migraine' to the quieter introspection of 'Us/We/Are'.
  • The album closes with a track that incorporates spoken word elements, contrasting with the preceding music's intensity.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Zero Day 3:57
  • 2 Blue Line Baby 4:30
  • 3 You Wind Me Up 3:59
  • 4 Plastic Migraine 4:44
  • 5 Us/We/Are 3:34
  • 6 Hail on Palace Pier 4:48
  • 7 I Hate the Flowers 4:21
  • 8 The Carpenter's Son 7:45
  • 9 (HOPE) Is Just Another Word With a Hole in It 5:48

What to play next

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Tired of Tomorrow

2016
Full Nothing discography Artists like Nothing
alternative rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata