Hand Built by Robots
Newton Faulkner · 2007
43 min · 17 tracks · folk rock
An intricate blend of fingerstyle guitar and heartfelt lyrics, capturing the essence of modern folk rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dream Catch Me — As the breakout single from the album, this track showcases Faulkner's distinctive voice and captivating melodies, resonating with listeners seeking emotional depth.
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I Need Something — This track highlights Faulkner's skillful guitar work and lyrical vulnerability, encapsulating the album's overarching themes of longing and introspection.
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People Should Smile More — With its upbeat tempo and optimistic message, this song serves as a refreshing contrast to some of the more somber tracks, demonstrating Faulkner's versatility as an artist.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production, balancing upbeat and introspective moments effectively.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks with intricate fingerstyle guitar, while the second half shifts to more introspective and slower songs.
- Several tracks incorporate unconventional instrumentation, such as the sitar in 'Sitar-y Thing', adding a unique texture to the sound.
- The lead single 'Dream Catch Me' is positioned as the fifth track, serving as a pivotal moment that energizes the album's flow.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- 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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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
Significant within its genre. 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
- short bursts of reflective storytelling
- warm acoustic textures for relaxation
- playful melodies for casual listening
- heartfelt moments of quiet introspection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy anthems
- seek complex, sprawling compositions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2007, Hand Built by Robots was Newton Faulkner's debut album, showcasing his unique acoustic style and impressive vocal range. This album marked a pivotal moment in his career, as it catapulted him into mainstream recognition and earned him a dedicated fan base.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ben Howard· Jack Johnson· Passenger
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Intro 0:34
- 2 To the Light 2:40
- 3 I Need Something 2:57
- 4 All I Got 3:21
- 5 Dream Catch Me 3:56
- 6 Feels Like Home 3:12
- 7 Teardrop 3:09
- 8 Gone in the Morning 2:21
- 9 Sitar-y Thing 1:19
- 10 Uncomfortably Slow 3:28
- 11 Straight Towards the Sun 3:39
- 12 People Should Smile More 3:29
- 13 She's Got the Time 1:20
- 14 U.F.O. 2:36
- 15 Face (Her) 0:39
- 16 Ageing Superhero 3:22
- 17 Lullaby 1:37
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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