Released 40 years ago
Paint Your Wagon
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry · 1986
44 min · 15 tracks · punk rock
A whirlwind of driving guitars and urgent rhythms, encapsulating the raw energy of 80s gothic rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Walking on Your Hands — This track exemplifies the band's signature sound with its catchy hooks and driving beat, showcasing their ability to merge punk energy with melodic elements.
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Head All Fire — The intensity of this track highlights the band's punk roots while embracing darker lyrical themes, making it a standout representation of their style.
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Shout at the Sky — With an anthemic chorus and urgent instrumentation, this song captures the band's ethos of rebellion and urgency that permeates the album.
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Which Side — A succinct yet impactful track that reflects the socio-political tensions of the time, combining sharp lyrics with a driving rhythm that resonates with listeners.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong energy and distinct gothic influences but lacks depth for lasting engagement.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Walking on Your Hands', and maintains a fast tempo through the first half before slowing down in the latter tracks.
- Several songs feature layered guitar riffs that create a dense soundscape, particularly evident in 'Head All Fire' and 'Blitz'.
- The vocal delivery is often urgent and raw, matching the aggressive instrumentation throughout most of the album.
- 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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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
- urgent rhythms for high energy
- short tracks for quick bursts
- driving guitars ignite adrenaline
- cathartic release in every track
- late-night driving soundtrack
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, soundscapes
- seek slow and mellow tunes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released as Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's second album, Paint Your Wagon followed their debut, Talk About the Weather, from 1985. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their place within the post-punk and gothic rock scenes, building on the critical acclaim gained from their earlier work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Sisters of Mercy· Fields of the Nephilim· Bauhaus
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Walking on Your Hands 2:43
- 2 Jipp 3:00
- 3 Last Train 2:22
- 4 Head All Fire 2:40
- 5 Mescal Dance 2:43
- 6 Paint Your Wagon 2:40
- 7 Shout at the Sky 3:09
- 8 Which Side 2:11
- 9 Tear Me Up 2:31
- 10 Save My Soul 2:48
- 11 Blitz 3:45
- 12 Hold Yourself Down 2:41
- 13 Generation 3:19
- 14 Spinning Round 2:52
- 15 Chance 5:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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