Mark Stewart cover

Mark Stewart

Mark Stewart · 1987

66 min · 11 tracks · post-punk

A confrontational blend of post-punk energy and dub-infused rhythms that challenges societal norms and personal identity.

Top tracks — play these first

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    Anger is Holy — This track encapsulates the album's raw energy with its relentless rhythm and scathing lyrics that critique power structures, showcasing Stewart's vocal intensity.
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    Survivalist — In this track, Stewart employs stark imagery to address themes of survival and resilience, making it a powerful statement in both sound and message.
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    Forbidden Colour — Blending haunting melodies with a dub influence, this track highlights Stewart's ability to merge emotional depth with political undertones, marking a pivotal moment on the album.
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    Fatal Attraction — With its hypnotic beat and layered vocals, this song represents Stewart's exploration of complex relationships, adding an introspective layer 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.

53 /100
Foothills
Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

The album combines post-punk energy with dub influences, showcasing distinctive themes and sounds that resonate within its genre.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a driving beat and aggressive vocals, maintaining high energy through the first four tracks before shifting to more experimental soundscapes.
  • Several tracks feature dub elements, including heavy reverb and echo effects, particularly in 'Forbidden Dub' which contrasts sharply with the preceding songs.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

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
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Survival 5:10
  • 2 Survivalist 2:43
  • 3 Anger is Holy 9:11
  • 4 Hell is Empty 7:05
  • 5 Stranger 8:19
  • 6 Forbidden Colour 4:43
  • 7 Forbidden Dub 3:11
  • 8 Fatal Attraction 9:00
  • 9 Stranger Than Love 7:16
  • 10 Stranger Than Love Dub 5:29
  • 11 Survival 4:08

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata