Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts
The Murder City Devils · 1998
37 min · 12 tracks · horror punk
Raw punk energy collides with heart-wrenching melodies to create a raucous yet emotionally resonant experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Want a Lot Now (So Come on) — Opening with an infectious energy, this track encapsulates the album's rebellious spirit while showcasing the band's knack for catchy hooks and lyrical urgency.
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Dancin' Shoes — A standout track that combines driving rhythms with a sense of yearning, it captures the band's ability to blend punk rock's rawness with melodic sensibility.
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Cradle to the Grave — This song stands out for its reflective lyrics and atmospheric instrumentation, providing a poignant contrast to the album's more frenetic tracks.
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Hey Sailor — Short and punchy, this track exemplifies the band's signature style with its vivid storytelling and gritty vocal delivery, making it a quintessential listen.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines energetic punk with emotional melodies, showcasing solid songwriting and a raw production style.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a high-energy tempo with driving guitar riffs and aggressive drumming, while the second half introduces slower, more melodic tracks.
- Several songs feature call-and-response vocals, creating an engaging dynamic between the lead singer and backing harmonies.
- The production is intentionally raw, with a gritty sound that emphasizes the punk aesthetic, particularly in the guitar tones and vocal delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- 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.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 I Want a Lot Now (So Come on) 3:27
- 2 Dancin' Shoes 2:25
- 3 18 Wheels 3:21
- 4 Left Hand, Right Hand 2:28
- 5 Ready for More 3:49
- 6 Cradle to the Grave 4:16
- 7 Dear Hearts 3:20
- 8 Hey Sailor 2:05
- 9 Johnny Thunders 2:12
- 10 Stars in Her Eyes 3:26
- 11 Another Round on You 2:36
- 12 Every Shitty Thing 3:59
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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