Top tracks — play these first
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Yeah Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Soul to Preach To — This track captures the essence of Fuel’s sound with its soaring chorus and introspective lyrics about personal struggles and redemption.
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Puppet Strings — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of control and manipulation, featuring powerful instrumentation that highlights Scallions' vocal range.
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Hey, Mama — This song combines catchy hooks with emotional lyrics that delve into familial bonds, showcasing the band's ability to blend personal storytelling with hard rock energy.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic rock with introspective moments, showcasing solid songwriting but lacking standout uniqueness.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with driving guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, while the second half shifts to more introspective themes.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing their melodic appeal.
- 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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5/10
- 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
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
- steady mid-tempo engagement
- introspective moments of reflection
- vulnerable themes with strength
- raw vocal expressions throughout
- consistent flow for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a strong return for the band after reunion with original vocalist.
- Career context
- Released on March 4, 2014, Puppet Strings is Fuel's fifth studio album and their first since reuniting with original vocalist Brett Scallions. This album marked a return to form for the band following a period of lineup changes and inconsistent output, showcasing Scallions' reinvigorated presence in the group.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Creed· 3 Doors Down· Nickelback
Tracklist
- 1 Yeah Start here 3:13
- 2 Soul to Preach To 4:34
- 3 Hey, Mama 3:39
- 4 Time for Me to Stop 3:48
- 5 Wander 5:42
- 6 Cold Summer 3:56
- 7 I Can See the Sun 4:10
- 8 Puppet Strings 4:03
- 9 Headache 3:16
- 10 What We Can Never Have 4:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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