Released 10 years ago
Pretty Years
Cymbals Eat Guitars · 2016
41 min · 10 tracks · indie rock
A vibrant blend of textured guitars and introspective lyrics that capture the fleeting nature of youth and nostalgia.
Top tracks — play these first
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Finally — The opening track sets the tone with an expansive soundscape and vivid imagery that encapsulates the album's themes of longing and reflection.
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Dancing Days — This track showcases a more upbeat tempo while juxtaposing celebratory lyrics with underlying feelings of uncertainty about the future.
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4th of July, Philadelphia (Sandy) — A poignant reflection on loss and memory, this song stands out for its emotional depth, capturing a sense of bittersweet nostalgia.
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Mallwalking — With its catchy hooks and relatable lyrics about mundane experiences, this track serves as a perfect example of the band's ability to find meaning in everyday moments.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production but has moments that feel less cohesive.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a layered guitar riff that sets a dynamic tone, while the second track introduces a more subdued vocal delivery.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo shifts, such as 'Dancing Days,' which transitions from a driving beat to a more reflective section.
- The album closes with 'Shrine,' which incorporates ambient soundscapes that contrast with the earlier guitar-driven tracks.
- 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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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.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Have a Heart
The narrative shifts to address a lost relationship directly, breaking from the earlier reflective tone.
This shift in perspective brings an immediacy to the emotions expressed, contrasting previous observations with raw vulnerability.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Finally 4:01
- 2 Have a Heart 3:02
- 3 Wish 4:04
- 4 Close 4:16
- 5 Dancing Days 5:02
- 6 4th of July, Philadelphia (Sandy) 3:29
- 7 Beam 2:14
- 8 Mallwalking 4:38
- 9 Well 4:15
- 10 Shrine 6:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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