Top tracks — play these first
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Six of One and Half a Dozen of the Other Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Barricades — This track showcases the band's trademark brevity and urgency while addressing themes of resistance and protest that resonate throughout the album.
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Life Live — With its driving rhythm and pointed lyrics, this song exemplifies The Ex’s ability to marry art rock sensibilities with punk intensity.
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Dutch Disease — This track cleverly critiques economic issues through metaphorical lyrics, reflecting The Ex's distinctive approach to socially conscious songwriting.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's raw energy and unorthodox structures mark it as a distinctive entry in the post-punk landscape.
What we noticed
- The album features abrupt tempo shifts, with tracks like 'Barricades' and 'Machinery' alternating between frenetic punk rhythms and slower, more contemplative sections.
- Many songs employ unconventional song structures, often eschewing traditional verse-chorus formats in favor of more experimental arrangements.
- The lyrics are politically charged and delivered with a sense of urgency, often overlapping with the instrumentation to create a dense soundscape.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
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
- brief energetic bursts of sound
- political themes in short tracks
- frenetic pace for quick listens
- in-order experience enhances impact
- sustained intensity throughout album
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, cohesive pieces
- dislike abrupt track transitions
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Helped establish The Ex's reputation and influence in underground music.
- Themes
- Dutch punk resistance· economic critique· art rock urgency
- Career context
- Released in 1982, History Is What's Happening was The Ex's third studio album, following their debut album, 1980's Disturbing Domestic Peace. At this point, they were solidifying their identity within the Dutch punk scene and expanding their sound to incorporate more complex rhythms and political themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Shellac· The Flying Lizards· Don Caballero
Tracklist
- 1 Six of One and Half a Dozen of the Other Start here 0:57
- 2 Barricades 1:03
- 3 Life Live 1:38
- 4 Machinery 0:45
- 5 E.M. Why 1:47
- 6 Moving Pictures 1:32
- 7 Shoes 1:44
- 8 Watch-Dogs 1:49
- 9 Dutch Disease 1:21
- 10 Blessed Box at the Backseat 1:13
- 11 Who Pays 2:44
- 12 Strong & Muscled 1:30
- 13 Grey 2:22
- 14 Equals Only 1:46
- 15 H'Wood - W'Ton 0:56
- 16 Sports 1:01
- 17 $ 0:56
- 18 Pep Talk 1:58
- 19 Attacked 1:55
- 20 148 2:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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