What makes Raise the Alarm by The Sunshine Underground notable?

Raise the Alarm received critical acclaim upon its release, with notable mentions in publications like NME and The Guardian, which praised its vibrant sound. The album helped establish The Sunshine Underground as a prominent act within the indie rock genre, contributing to the early-2000s resurgence of guitar-driven music in Britain. Released as The Sunshine Underground's debut album in January 2006, Raise the Alarm marked the band's entry into the indie rock scene following their formation in 2002. This period was crucial for the band as they sought to carve out their identity amidst the post-punk revival that characterized the UK music landscape of the time.

How many songs are on Raise the Alarm?

Raise the Alarm has 11 tracks, running approximately 49 minutes.

Released 20 years ago

Raise the Alarm

The Sunshine Underground · 2006

49 min · 11 tracks · indie rock

Energetic indie rock blends infectious hooks with a raw, danceable edge that captures the spirit of early 2000s British music.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Wake Up — The opening track sets an upbeat tone with its catchy chorus and driving rhythm, encapsulating the band's energetic essence.
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Commercial Breakdown — This track critiques consumer culture through sharp lyrics and a frenetic pace, showcasing the band's lyrical depth paired with engaging melodies.
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Panic Attack — With its pulsating beat and anxious themes, this track represents the band's ability to fuse personal struggles with danceable rock.
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Raise the Alarm / Who Called the Dandy? — The closing epic merges two songs into one sprawling narrative, illustrating their ambition and willingness to experiment with structure.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album showcases energetic songwriting and solid production but lacks standout depth or cohesion.

What we noticed

Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a sense of urgency and engagement, particularly in the choruses.
The album closes with a track that combines elements from earlier songs, creating a thematic resolution while maintaining a lively pace.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

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 Wake Up 2:31
2 Put You in Your Place 3:14
3 Dead Scene 3:55
4 The Way It Is 5:14
5 Commercial Breakdown 3:50
6 Somebody's Always Getting in the Way 3:00
7 Borders 4:02
8 Panic Attack 3:44
9 I Ain't Losing Any Sleep 4:19
10 My Army 4:09
11 Raise the Alarm / Who Called the Dandy? 11:57

What to play next

Listen next

Nobody's Coming to Save You

2010

Go back to

Put You in Your Place

2005

Full The Sunshine Underground discography Artists like The Sunshine Underground

indie rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata