What makes Plague Park by Handsome Furs notable?

Plague Park received critical acclaim for its innovative sound and lyrical depth, solidifying Handsome Furs' place in the indie rock landscape. It was particularly noted for its exploration of urban isolation and societal issues, resonating with listeners and influencing subsequent artists in the genre. Released in January 2007, Plague Park was the sophomore album for Handsome Furs, following their debut, Face Control. At this point, the duo had begun to carve out a unique niche in the indie rock scene, blending elements of electronic music with punk influences and personal narratives.

How many songs are on Plague Park?

Plague Park has 9 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

Plague Park

Handsome Furs · 2007

36 min · 9 tracks · indie rock

A gritty exploration of urban life, merging raw synths with punk-infused rhythms and evocative storytelling.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Handsome Furs Hate This City — This track encapsulates the album's themes of disillusionment and urban struggle through its driving beat and poignant lyrics about city life.
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Snakes on the Ladder — With its catchy melodies and sharp commentary on ambition and failure, this song stands out as a reflection of modern existential dilemmas.
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Dumb Animals — The haunting atmosphere and introspective lyrics highlight the emotional core of the album, making it a key representation of the duo's artistic vision.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album's blend of raw synths and punk rhythms creates a distinctive sound that explores urban themes effectively.

What we noticed

The album opens with a driving beat and layered synths, establishing a gritty urban atmosphere that persists throughout.
Several tracks feature a call-and-response vocal style, creating an engaging dialogue between the two singers.
The pacing varies significantly; tracks like 'Hearts of Iron' maintain a steady tempo while others, such as 'Dumb Animals', introduce abrupt shifts in dynamics.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

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 What We Had 3:56
2 Hearts of Iron 3:35
3 Handsome Furs Hate This City 4:58
4 Snakes on the Ladder 4:30
5 Can Not Get Started 3:00
6 Sing! Captain 5:21
7 Dead + Rural 3:00
8 Dumb Animals 5:37
9 In the Radio's Hot Sun 2:34

What to play next

Listen next

Face Control

2009

Full Handsome Furs discography Artists like Handsome Furs

indie rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata