Released 10 years ago
Ocean by Ocean
The Boxer Rebellion · 2016
39 min · 10 tracks · indie rock
Ethereal soundscapes blend with emotive vocals, creating a poignant exploration of love and loss within indie rock's expansive territory.
Top tracks — play these first
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Weapon — Opening with an atmospheric build-up, this track sets the tone for the entire album with its haunting melodies and introspective lyrics that explore vulnerability.
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Big Ideas — This song encapsulates the album's themes of ambition and longing through its soaring chorus and layered instrumentation, making it a standout anthem.
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Let It Go — Closing the album, this track offers a reflective resolution with its minimalist arrangement and poignant lyrics about release and acceptance, leaving a lasting impression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong emotional themes and varied pacing, though it remains within familiar indie rock territory.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a driving rhythm in 'Weapon' that sets an energetic tone, but transitions to more subdued arrangements by track three.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a rich texture, particularly evident in 'Keep Me Close' and 'Redemption'.
- The final three tracks slow the tempo significantly, allowing for introspective moments that contrast with the earlier energy.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- 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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- introspective moments of reflection
- melancholic yet hopeful soundscapes
- gentle pacing for quiet evenings
- subtle emotional depth throughout
- evocative themes of connection
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer straightforward, upbeat songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Ocean by Ocean is The Boxer Rebellion's fourth studio album, released after their 2013 effort, Promises. By 2016, the band had established a solid fan base and was exploring deeper emotional themes within their sound. This record represents a maturation in their songwriting approach, reflecting personal experiences and growth since their earlier work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Interpol· The National· Editors
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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You Can Love Me
The moment shifts from uncertainty to a declaration of openness in love, highlighting a desire for connection amidst doubt.
This transition marks a pivotal emotional turn in the song, showcasing the complexity of relationships while inviting vulnerability.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Weapon 3:15
- 2 Big Ideas 4:26
- 3 Let's Disappear 4:17
- 4 Pull Yourself Together 3:18
- 5 Firework 3:27
- 6 Keep Me Close 4:31
- 7 Redemption 3:57
- 8 The Fog I Was Lost In 2:55
- 9 You Can Love Me 5:16
- 10 Let It Go 4:26
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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