Released 40 years ago
Gun-Shy
The Screaming Blue Messiahs · 1986
42 min · 12 tracks · rock and roll
A gritty blend of rock and roll infused with punk energy and biting social commentary throughout its dynamic tracks.
Top tracks — play these first
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Wild Blue Yonder — The opening track sets the tone with its driving rhythm and vivid imagery, encapsulating the band's ability to blend urgency with thoughtful commentary.
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Talking Doll — This track stands out due to its jangly guitar hooks and dark humor, showcasing the band's knack for combining catchy melodies with sharp social critique.
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Killer Born Man — With a compelling narrative arc, this song highlights the band's storytelling prowess while maintaining a gritty musical backdrop that underscores its themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases energetic rock with punk influences and sharp lyrical content, though it may not have lasting appeal.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a punchy guitar riff in 'Wild Blue Yonder' that sets a high-energy tone, which is maintained through the first five tracks.
- Tracks like 'Just for Fun' and 'Let's Go Down to the Woods' feature abrupt tempo shifts, creating a sense of unpredictability.
- Several songs incorporate spoken word elements, particularly in 'President Kennedy's Mile', adding a layer of social commentary to the lyrics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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 Wild Blue Yonder 4:44
- 2 Holiday Head 3:58
- 3 Smash the Market Place 3:10
- 4 You're Gonna Change 2:41
- 5 Just for Fun 2:49
- 6 Let's Go Down to the Woods 4:34
- 7 Talking Doll 2:38
- 8 Twin Cadillac Valentine 3:57
- 9 President Kennedy's Mile 2:56
- 10 Someone to Talk To 3:39
- 11 Clear View 4:00
- 12 Killer Born Man 3:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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