What makes From This Place by Pat Metheny notable?

From This Place received critical acclaim, appearing on multiple year-end lists and reinforcing Metheny's stature in contemporary jazz. The album showcases innovative arrangements and has been noted for its thematic depth, addressing current societal issues while still appealing to a broad audience. Released in 2020, From This Place marks Pat Metheny's first studio album in five years following the orchestral project, The Unity Sessions. At this point in his career, Metheny continued to explore new musical territories while maintaining his established identity as a jazz innovator, reflecting both personal and global themes through his compositions.

Who is From This Place for?

From This Place works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, reflective moments for quiet contemplation and wave-like pacing encourages deep listening.

How many songs are on From This Place?

From This Place has 10 tracks, running approximately 76 minutes.

From This Place

Pat Metheny · 2020

76 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A vibrant blend of intricate melodies and expansive soundscapes that showcase Metheny's signature guitar work and orchestral arrangements.

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Top tracks — play these first

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America Undefined — This opening track spans over thirteen minutes, setting an ambitious tone with its sweeping melodies and complex rhythms that capture the essence of the album's exploration of identity and belonging.
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Wide and Far — With its rich harmonic textures and emotive solos, this piece encapsulates the album's reflective nature, showcasing Metheny's ability to weave intricate narratives through his guitar work.
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Everything Explained — This track stands out for its conversational interplay between instruments, embodying the album's theme of communication amidst chaos and uncertainty.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and varied arrangements but lacks a strong cohesive flow throughout.

What we noticed

Each track varies in tempo and mood, with some pieces building to climactic moments while others maintain a more reflective tone.

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

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.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with emotional peaks
reflective moments for quiet contemplation
wave-like pacing encourages deep listening
rich textures for focused attention
for evening relaxation

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer standalone tracks only

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 2020, From This Place marks Pat Metheny's first studio album in five years following the orchestral project, The Unity Sessions. At this point in his career, Metheny continued to explore new musical territories while maintaining his established identity as a jazz innovator, reflecting both personal and global themes through his compositions.
Stylistic neighbors: Brad Mehldau· John Scofield· Chick Corea