What makes Fathers Be Kind by Ivan & Alyosha notable?

The album received positive reviews from various publications, establishing the band's presence in the indie folk scene. Its title track, 'Fathers Be Kind,' resonated deeply with listeners, leading to increased airplay on college radio stations and contributing to the band's rising profile. When 'Fathers Be Kind' was released in January 2011, Ivan & Alyosha were still emerging from their local Seattle scene, having gained traction with their earlier EPs. This album marked their debut full-length effort, showcasing a maturation in their songwriting and a deeper exploration of personal themes.

How many songs are on Fathers Be Kind?

Fathers Be Kind has 5 tracks, running approximately 21 minutes.

Fathers Be Kind

Ivan & Alyosha · 2011

21 min · 5 tracks · traditional folk music

A warm blend of folk melodies layered with introspective lyrics and rich harmonies that evoke a sense of nostalgia.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Fathers Be Kind — This title track encapsulates the album's themes of compassion and familial connection through heartfelt lyrics and a memorable melody, making it a standout piece.
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Everything Is Burning — With its poignant exploration of vulnerability amid chaos, this track exemplifies the band's lyrical depth and rich instrumentation, leaving a lasting impact.
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Living for Someone — This song highlights the band's ability to weave personal narratives into universal themes, showcasing their harmonic strengths and emotional resonance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

52 /100

Foothills

Higher than 38% of albums we've rated

The EP showcases strong melodies and harmonies but remains within familiar folk structures.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a gentle acoustic guitar riff that sets a reflective tone, which is maintained throughout the EP.
The final track concludes with a gradual fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of introspection.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 2/10

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.

Tracklist

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

1 Fathers Be Kind 3:27
2 I Was Born to Love Her 4:16
3 Everything Is Burning 5:00
4 Living for Someone 4:45
5 Glorify 3:53

What to play next

Listen next

All the Times We Had

2013

Go back to

All These Wandering Times

Full Ivan & Alyosha discography Artists like Ivan & Alyosha

traditional folk music

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata