Released 10 years ago
Good Advice
Basia Bulat · 2016
36 min · 10 tracks · folk music
Warm, introspective folk melodies intertwine with rich instrumentation, showcasing a blend of vulnerability and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
La La Lie — Opening with a captivating melody and poignant lyrics about deception, this track sets the emotional tone for the entire album. Its infectious chorus invites listeners into Bulat's intricate world of longing.
-
→
Good Advice — The title track encapsulates the album’s central themes of seeking wisdom amidst uncertainty, blending heartfelt lyrics with an uplifting arrangement that showcases Bulat's vocal range.
-
→
Long Goodbye — With its haunting instrumentation and reflective lyrics on parting ways, this song stands out for its emotional weight, illustrating Bulat's ability to balance sorrow with beauty.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines strong songwriting with rich arrangements, though it follows familiar folk patterns.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a bright, rhythmic track that sets a lively tone, but transitions to more subdued pieces by the fourth track.
- Several songs feature layered instrumentation, including strings and percussion, which create a rich sonic backdrop for the vocals.
- The lyrics often explore themes of vulnerability and resilience, with personal narratives woven throughout each song.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- introspective lyrics for quiet evenings
- warm sounds for cozy settings
- short tracks for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Good Advice is Basia Bulat's fourth studio album, released after her critically acclaimed work Tall Tall Shadow in 2013. By this point in her career, she had established herself as a prominent figure in the indie folk scene, known for her emotive songwriting and distinctive voice. The album reflects her continued evolution as an artist, exploring deeper personal themes while expanding her musical palette.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Laura Marling· Feist· Sufjan Stevens
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
-
Good Advice
The bridge shifts perspective as Bulat contemplates advice given and its implications on her life choices.
This pivot not only deepens the introspective nature of the song but also highlights the tension between external expectations and personal truths.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 La La Lie 3:45
- 2 Long Goodbye 3:46
- 3 Let Me In 2:45
- 4 In the Name Of 4:17
- 5 Time 3:05
- 6 Good Advice 4:16
- 7 Infamous 3:42
- 8 Fool 2:43
- 9 The Garden 3:17
- 10 Someday Soon 4:23
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.