Juvenilia
The Verlaines · 1987
64 min · 15 tracks · rock music
A swirling amalgamation of jangly guitars and introspective lyrics captures the essence of late '80s New Zealand rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Death and the Maiden — This opening track sets the tone with its haunting melodies and lyrical depth, encapsulating the band's ability to blend melancholy with catchy hooks.
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Crisis After Crisis — The song features intricate guitar work and an urgent tempo that reflects themes of personal struggle, showcasing the band's lyrical prowess and musical dynamism.
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You Cheat Yourself of Everything That Moves — This track stands out for its poignant commentary on self-deception, wrapped in an infectious melody that highlights the band's knack for engaging songwriting.
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Angela — With its evocative storytelling and rich instrumentation, this song exemplifies the emotional depth present throughout Juvenilia, making it a highlight of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Juvenilia showcases strong songwriting within its lo-fi production, marking it as a notable debut in the Dunedin Sound.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of jangly guitar riffs that intertwine with melodic bass lines across nearly all tracks.
- Lyrical themes often reflect introspection and personal struggle, with several songs employing a narrative style.
- The production maintains a lo-fi aesthetic, giving the record a raw and unpolished sound characteristic of the Dunedin Sound.
- 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.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Crisis After Crisis
The bridge shifts perspectives to suggest an internal dialogue about facing relentless challenges.
This change emphasizes vulnerability at a pivotal moment in the song, reinforcing the emotional weight of the crisis theme.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Death and the Maiden 4:27
- 2 Doomsday 4:02
- 3 Joed Out 3:40
- 4 Baud to Tears 4:03
- 5 Crisis After Crisis 5:07
- 6 Burlesque 3:43
- 7 You Cheat Yourself of Everything That Moves 3:24
- 8 Pyromaniac 3:29
- 9 Windsong 3:11
- 10 Angela 3:34
- 11 You Say You 7:14
- 12 New Kind of Hero 3:20
- 13 [instrumental] 3:47
- 14 Phil Too? 4:30
- 15 C.D., Jimmy Jazz and Me 6:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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