Top tracks — play these first
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Dance! — This track captures the album's infectious spirit with its upbeat tempo and call to action, embodying the band's ethos of enjoying life through music and movement.
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Fear of Death — With its introspective lyrics juxtaposed against an energetic backdrop, this song highlights Datarock's ability to blend serious themes with catchy hooks.
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Give It Up — This track stands out for its anthemic chorus and danceable rhythm, making it a quintessential party anthem that showcases the band's playful lyrical style.
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In the Red — The title track serves as a critical commentary on modern life and consumerism, melding sharp lyrics with engaging melodies that reflect the band's punk roots.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's energetic blend of punk and electronic elements creates a distinctive sound, though its cohesion is somewhat uneven.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a high-energy tempo with danceable beats, while the second half introduces slower tracks that create a contrasting dynamic.
- Several tracks feature call-and-response vocals, enhancing the playful and interactive nature of the lyrics.
- The production incorporates electronic elements alongside traditional punk instrumentation, blending synths with guitars throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- 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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5/10
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- danceable grooves for social gatherings
- short bursts of playful energy
- witty lyrics that spark laughter
- upbeat tracks for party vibes
Maybe skip if you
- prefer slow, introspective music
- want lengthy, immersive albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2009, Red is Datarock's second studio album following their debut, Datarock Datarock, from 2005. At this point, the band had gained a cult following and was refining their distinctive blend of punk and electronic music while embracing a more polished production style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Go! Team· Death from Above 1979· We Are Scientists
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Blog 3:11
- 2 Give It Up 2:47
- 3 True Stories 2:49
- 4 Dance! 3:38
- 5 Molly 3:20
- 6 Do It Your Way 1:47
- 7 In the Red 3:34
- 8 Fear of Death 2:15
- 9 Amarillion 4:20
- 10 The Pretender 3:08
- 11 Back in the Seventies 3:00
- 12 Not Me 3:46
- 13 New Days Dawn 3:08
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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