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.
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
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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
- 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
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
By the Grace of God
The Hellacopters
Shares raw punk energy and glam rock flair, capturing youthful rebellion in a catchy package.
Veni Vidi Vicious
The Hives
Combines garage rock rawness with punk swagger, embodying a similar carefree attitude.
Ass Cobra
Turbonegro
Delivers high-octane punk with glam influences, echoing themes of rebellion and youthful defiance.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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