Pinned cover

Pinned

A Place to Bury Strangers · 2018

38 min · 12 tracks · noise rock

A chaotic blend of feedback-laden guitars and relentless rhythms that push the boundaries of noise rock.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Never Coming Back — The opening track sets the tone with its driving beats and swirling guitar effects, establishing the album's frenetic energy right from the start.
  • →
    Execution — With its aggressive tempo and harsh vocal delivery, this track epitomizes the band's raw sound while addressing themes of urgency and despair.
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    Too Tough to Kill — This song features a catchy chorus juxtaposed with distorted instrumentation, highlighting the band's ability to merge melody with chaos effectively.
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    Look Me in the Eye — At under two minutes, this track delivers a punchy dose of intensity and showcases the band's skill at packing emotion into brief moments.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

55 /100
Foothills
Higher than 45% of albums we've rated

The album's intense sound and unpredictable dynamics create a distinctive noise rock experience.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a barrage of distorted guitar feedback that sets a chaotic tone, which is maintained throughout the first half.
  • Several tracks incorporate layered vocal effects that blend into the instrumentation, making it difficult to discern lyrics on first listen.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

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

  • chaotic energy for late nights
  • frantic bursts of intensity
  • short tracks for quick listening
  • raw emotion in every moment
  • immersive soundscapes to explore

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer smooth, calming sounds
  • seek melodic simplicity

Where this album fits

Career context
Pinned is A Place to Bury Strangers' fourth studio album, released in 2018 after a three-year hiatus following their previous album, Transfixiation. By this time, the band had solidified their reputation for intense live performances and a unique sound that fused elements of shoegaze with punk energy. The album reflects a mature phase in their career, showcasing their ability to innovate within the noise rock genre.

Tracklist

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

  • 1 Never Coming Back 5:14
  • 2 Execution 2:10
  • 3 There’s Only One of Us 3:18
  • 4 Situations Changes 5:09
  • 5 Too Tough to Kill 2:08
  • 6 Frustrated Operator 2:29
  • 7 Look Me in the Eye 1:52
  • 8 Was It Electric 3:46
  • 9 I Know I’ve Done Bad Things 4:44
  • 10 Act Your Age 1:58
  • 11 Attitude 2:28
  • 12 Keep Moving On 3:08

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata