Reward
Cate Le Bon · 2019
42 min · 10 tracks · traditional folk music
Reward combines eclectic instrumentation with introspective lyrics, creating a surreal soundscape that blurs the lines between folk and avant-garde pop.
Top tracks — play these first
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Mother’s Mother’s Magazines — This track stands out for its intricate layering of sounds and vivid imagery, reflecting on personal histories while intertwining humor and melancholy.
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Sad Nudes — With its haunting melody and poignant lyrics, this song encapsulates the album's exploration of vulnerability and emotional complexity.
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You Don’t Love Me — This track showcases Le Bon's ability to merge catchy hooks with deeper themes of longing and realization, making it both accessible and thought-provoking.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Reward's eclectic arrangements and surreal lyrics create a distinctive sound that stands out in contemporary folk.
What we noticed
- The album features a wide range of instrumentation, including strings, synthesizers, and unconventional percussion, creating a layered soundscape.
- Tracks often shift in tempo and mood, with several songs incorporating abrupt changes that challenge traditional song structures.
- Lyrically, the album blends introspective themes with surreal imagery, often leaving interpretations open-ended for the listener.
- 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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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
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
- steady introspection for quiet moments
- ethereal melodies for deep focus
- surreal narratives that provoke thought
- mid-tempo flow for reflective afternoons
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party tracks
- prefer instant gratification over nuance
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on May 24, 2019, Reward is Cate Le Bon's fifth studio album, following the critically acclaimed Crab Day (2016). At this point in her career, Le Bon had established herself as a distinctive voice in the indie music scene, known for her experimental approach and unique songwriting style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Angel Olsen· Julia Holter· Sufjan Stevens
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Home to You
The narrative shifts from nostalgia to a stark confrontation of reality, emphasizing the tension between memory and present circumstances.
This shift in perspective intensifies the emotional impact, illustrating how reflections on the past can clash with current feelings.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Miami 5:17
- 2 Daylight Matters 4:18
- 3 Home to You 5:27
- 4 Mother’s Mother’s Magazines 4:17
- 5 Here It Comes Again 3:24
- 6 Sad Nudes 3:08
- 7 The Light 4:51
- 8 Magnificent Gestures 5:00
- 9 You Don’t Love Me 3:06
- 10 Meet the Man 3:55
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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