What makes Nothing Valley by Melkbelly notable?

Nothing Valley received critical acclaim for its inventive sound and dynamic compositions, landing on several year-end lists and drawing attention to Melkbelly as a notable voice in the contemporary indie rock landscape. The album's bold approach contributed to the rising popularity of noise rock revival among indie bands during this period. Released on January 1, 2017, Nothing Valley is Melkbelly's debut full-length album following their EP, Pennsylvania. At this point in their career, the band was establishing their unique sound, blending raw instrumentation with experimental elements as they emerged from the Chicago music scene.

How many songs are on Nothing Valley?

Nothing Valley has 11 tracks, running approximately 34 minutes.

Nothing Valley

Melkbelly · 2017

34 min · 11 tracks

A chaotic blend of noise rock and punk energy, rife with jagged melodies and relentless rhythms.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Off the Lot — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its frenzied energy and angular guitar riffs, immediately immersing listeners in Melkbelly's chaotic world.
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R.O.R.OB — With its complex time signatures and dissonant harmonies, this track showcases the band's ability to weave intricate musical ideas into a coherent narrative.
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Petrified — This song exemplifies the band's knack for contrasting mellow vocals with explosive instrumentation, creating a captivating push-and-pull dynamic throughout.
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Cawthra — The track features haunting melodies interspersed with aggressive bursts of sound, highlighting Melkbelly's skill in merging vulnerability with raw intensity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

65 /100

Treeline

Higher than 54% of albums we've rated

The album's inventive sound and dynamic compositions showcase Melkbelly's unique approach to noise rock.

What we noticed

The album features abrupt tempo shifts, with several tracks transitioning from frenetic energy to slower, more introspective moments.
Many songs incorporate dissonant guitar riffs layered over driving percussion, creating a chaotic yet cohesive sound.
Vocal delivery often alternates between melodic lines and shouted phrases, enhancing the dynamic contrast throughout the record.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

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.

Tracklist

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

1 Off the Lot 2:13
2 Kid Kreative 2:18
3 R.O.R.OB 5:01
4 Greedy Gull 2:22
5 Petrified 3:24
6 Middle Of 2:57
7 Twin Lookin Motherfucker 2:17
8 RUNXRN 3:14
9 R2PCM 1:28
10 Cawthra 3:42
11 Helloween 5:36

What to play next

Listen next

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2020

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata