Released 20 years ago
Hands in Dirty Ground
Great Lake Swimmers · 2006
24 min · 6 tracks · folk rock
A delicate tapestry of folk melodies interwoven with introspective lyrics and a distinctly Canadian sense of place.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hands in Dirty Ground — This title track encapsulates the album's themes of connection to nature and the struggles of modern life through haunting melodies and vivid imagery.
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To Leave It Behind (Band version) — This track features rich instrumentation that enhances its reflective lyrics about moving forward and letting go, showcasing the band's growth since their debut.
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This Is Not Like Home (live) — In this live rendition, the raw emotion conveyed through the performance highlights the band's ability to connect deeply with their audience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The blend of studio and live tracks creates an engaging yet intimate experience, showcasing their evolving sound.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a gentle acoustic guitar melody, establishing a calm atmosphere that persists throughout the EP.
- Three of the six tracks are live recordings, which introduce a raw, organic quality that contrasts with the studio versions.
- The lyrics often reflect themes of nature and introspection, creating a cohesive narrative across the tracks.
- 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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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
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
- introspective moments of quiet reflection
- short bursts of melodic storytelling
- live recordings with raw emotion
- delicate melodies for serene afternoons
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy soundscapes
- want lengthy, sprawling albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 2006, Hands in Dirty Ground marked Great Lake Swimmers' second studio album, following their self-titled debut. By this time, the band had begun to establish their signature sound, characterized by lush instrumentation and poignant storytelling that resonated within the indie folk scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iron & Wine· Sufjan Stevens· Fleet Foxes
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Hands in Dirty Ground 3:39
- 2 To Leave It Behind (Band version) 4:07
- 3 Song for the Angels (Miracle version) 4:24
- 4 I Saw You in the Wild (live) 4:06
- 5 Innocent W.Y.D. (live) 4:45
- 6 This Is Not Like Home (live) 3:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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