How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
Suicidal Tendencies · 1990
50 min · 11 tracks · hardcore punk
A relentless fusion of thrash metal and hardcore punk that channels raw angst through sharp riffs and aggressive vocals.
Top tracks — play these first
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Trip at the Brain Start here — Opening with frenetic energy, this track encapsulates the album's chaotic spirit while addressing feelings of frustration and disillusionment.
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How Will I Laugh Tomorrow — The title track delves into deep emotional turmoil, contrasting heavy instrumentation with poignant lyrics that articulate a struggle with despair.
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Pledge Your Allegiance — This song stands out with its aggressive tempo and anthemic chorus, serving as a rallying cry against societal norms and expectations.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive riffs and dynamic shifts, effectively conveying its themes while maintaining a strong identity within hardcore punk.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tempo, maintaining high energy through the first five songs before introducing a slower, more introspective piece.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes and shifts in dynamics, creating a jarring contrast that reflects the lyrical themes of mental struggle.
- The use of aggressive vocal delivery is consistent throughout, often layered with harmonies that enhance the intensity of the message.
- 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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8/10
- 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
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- introspective themes amid chaos
- cathartic release through intensity
- engaging for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking consistent energy levels
- prefer short standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — This album explores mental health themes and showcases the band's artistic growth.
- Themes
- emotional despair· societal rebellion· chaotic frustration
- Career context
- Upon its release in 1990, 'How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today' marked Suicidal Tendencies' third studio album, following their breakthrough self-titled debut and the successful 'Join the Army'. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their status as pioneers of crossover thrash, blending punk energy with metal intensity while expanding their lyrical themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Municipal Waste· Anthrax· Sick of It All
Tracklist
- 1 Trip at the Brain Start here 4:32
- 2 Hearing Voices 4:13
- 3 Pledge Your Allegiance 4:32
- 4 How Will I Laugh Tomorrow 6:44
- 5 The Miracle 5:28
- 6 Suicyco Mania 5:52
- 7 Surf and Slam 2:51
- 8 If I Don't Wake Up 4:53
- 9 Sorry?! 3:47
- 10 One Too Many Times 3:13
- 11 The Feeling's Back 4:04
What to play next
Lights...Camera...Revolution!
1990
Continues the aggressive energy while introducing broader themes and melodic elements.
Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà-Vu
1989
Precedes with a similar intensity and raw emotion, setting the stage for the current album.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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