Top tracks — play these first
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Cactused — This track exemplifies Wire's knack for tight compositions and sardonic lyrics, encapsulating the album's overall themes of disillusionment and reflection.
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Unrepentant — With its driving rhythm and layered instrumentation, this song highlights Wire's signature approach to combining urgency with thoughtful lyrical content.
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Hung — Spanning nearly eight minutes, this track explores sonic experimentation while reflecting on unresolved emotions, showcasing the band's willingness to push boundaries.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Mind Hive showcases Wire's ability to innovate within their established sound while maintaining cohesion across its tracks.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature driving rhythms and angular guitar lines, establishing a brisk pace that is maintained through the fourth track.
- The album closes with two tracks that gradually decrease in tempo, allowing for a reflective conclusion.
- 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
- steady tempo for focused listening
- intricate melodies for detail seekers
- short tracks for quick engagement
- subtle climaxes that invite reflection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, sprawling compositions
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows Wire's continued evolution and relevance in modern music.
- Career context
- Released on January 24, 2020, Mind Hive marks Wire's fourteenth studio album and follows their 2017 release, Silver/Lead. The band remains influential in the post-punk genre, showcasing their ability to adapt and innovate even more than four decades into their career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gang of Four· The Fall· Television
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Be Like Them
The narrator critiques societal norms through a biting commentary that directly addresses conformity without offering solace or resolution.
This moment employs a confrontational tone that underscores the album's exploration of identity and societal pressures.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Be Like Them 3:52
- 2 Cactused 3:34
- 3 Primed and Ready 2:43
- 4 Off the Beach 2:22
- 5 Unrepentant 5:02
- 6 Shadows 2:45
- 7 Oklahoma 3:08
- 8 Hung 7:54
- 9 Humming 3:29
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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