Making Enemies Is Good cover

Making Enemies Is Good

Backyard Babies · 2001

44 min · 14 tracks · hard rock

Raw punk energy collides with glam rock theatrics, delivering an electrifying sound that embodies youthful rebellion and swagger.

Top tracks — play these first

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    I Love to Roll Start here — Opening the album with a high-octane riff, this track sets the tone for the entire record and encapsulates the band’s carefree attitude.
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    Payback — With its catchy chorus and driving rhythm, this song exemplifies the band's knack for blending punk aggression with memorable hooks.
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    The Kids Are Right — This track stands out for its anthemic quality and commentary on youth culture, making it relatable to listeners navigating their own identities.
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    Painkiller — Featuring darker themes and heavier instrumentation, this song demonstrates the band's range and adds depth to the album’s overall narrative.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

48 /100
Foothills
Higher than 19% of albums we've rated

The album captures raw energy and punk influences but lacks depth for long-term engagement.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album maintains a high-energy tempo with aggressive guitar riffs and driving drums, while the second half introduces more melodic elements.
  • Several tracks feature call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the sense of camaraderie and rebellion.
  • The production is raw and unpolished, emphasizing the punk aesthetic rather than a polished hard rock sound.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

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

  • raucous party atmosphere
  • quick bursts of energy
  • rebellious sing-along moments
  • dynamic shifts in intensity
  • playful irreverence throughout

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, mellow tunes
  • seek intricate, layered compositions

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album solidified their reputation in the hard rock genre and gained wider recognition.
Themes
Swedish rock scene· youth culture rebellion· carefree punk swagger
Career context
When 'Making Enemies Is Good' was released in 2001, Backyard Babies were establishing themselves as significant players in the Swedish rock scene. This album followed their 1998 release, 'Total 13', and marked a crucial phase in their career where they began to gain international attention, building on their established glam punk sound.
Stylistic neighbors
The Hellacopters· Turbonegro· The Wildhearts

Tracklist

  • 1 I Love to Roll Start here 2:04
  • 2 Payback 3:04
  • 3 Brand New Hate 3:00
  • 4 Colours 4:49
  • 5 Star War 3:07
  • 6 The Clash 3:07
  • 7 My Demonic Side 3:33
  • 8 The Kids Are Right 2:58
  • 9 Ex-Files 3:36
  • 10 Heaven 2.9 2:51
  • 11 Too Tough to Make Some Friends 2:17
  • 12 Painkiller 5:34
  • 13 Bigger W/A Trigger 2:11
  • 14 P.O.P. 2:38

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata