Top tracks — play these first
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Living in the Future — Opening the album, this track sets a contemplative tone while addressing modern anxieties about technology and progress, embodying the album's reflective spirit.
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My Greatest Invention — This song stands out for its introspective lyrics that challenge personal identity and accomplishment, effectively encapsulating the album's thematic depth.
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Mistakes We Should Have Made — Delving into themes of regret and missed opportunities, this track offers a poignant reflection that resonates with listeners navigating their own life choices.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Dawes blends thoughtful lyrics with strong musicianship, creating a reflective folk rock experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a steady mid-tempo track that sets a reflective tone, followed by a gradual increase in tempo and energy through the first half.
- The last three tracks slow down significantly, creating a contemplative atmosphere that contrasts with the earlier songs.
- 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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6/10
- 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
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
- steady mid-tempo reflective journey
- thoughtful lyrics for introspection
- for evening relaxation
- narrative flow through relationships
- gentle melodies for quiet moments
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy instant gratification
- seek quick, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By 2018, Dawes was in a phase of artistic evolution, having established themselves as a prominent act in the folk rock scene with their previous album 'We're All Gonna Die' in 2016. 'Passwords' serves as their fifth studio album, showcasing a mature sound that blends personal storytelling with broader social commentary.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Lumineers· Fleet Foxes· Iron & Wine
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Living in the Future 4:50
- 2 Stay Down 3:20
- 3 Crack the Case 5:54
- 4 Feed the Fire 5:57
- 5 My Greatest Invention 5:46
- 6 Telescope 6:34
- 7 I Can't Love 5:35
- 8 Mistakes We Should Have Made 3:48
- 9 Never Gonna Say Goodbye 3:56
- 10 Time Flies Either Way 5:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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