Root for Ruin
Les Savy Fav · 2010
39 min · 11 tracks · art rock
An eclectic mix of angular guitar riffs and frenetic rhythms drives the chaotic yet infectious energy throughout this album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dirty Knails — This track encapsulates the album's raw energy with its driving beat and catchy chorus, making it a standout representation of Les Savy Fav's signature sound.
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Let’s Get Out of Here — The song's infectious hook and dynamic shifts exemplify the band's playful yet intense approach to songwriting, revealing their knack for engaging listeners.
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Calm Down — With its contrasting quiet verses and explosive choruses, this track showcases the band’s ability to manipulate tension and release effectively within a song structure.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends punk energy with complex arrangements, showcasing strong writing and production choices.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a rapid-fire guitar riff that sets a frenetic pace, which is maintained through the first half of the album.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Poltergeist', which shifts from a driving beat to a more subdued section before ramping back up.
- The album includes moments of vocal layering and call-and-response between band members, particularly evident in 'High and Unhinged'.
- The final track, 'Clear Spirits', concludes with an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, creating a sense of closure.
- 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 mid-tempo flow throughout
- sharp lyrics with playful energy
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- sing-along moments with friends
Maybe skip if you
- prefer slow, introspective music
- seek long, immersive pieces
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Root for Ruin is Les Savy Fav's fifth studio album, released after a five-year hiatus following their previous album, Let's Stay Friends. At this point in their career, the band was re-establishing their presence in the indie rock scene while continuing to push the boundaries of art rock with their unique sound and theatrical performance style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Blood Brothers· At the Drive-In· Refused
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Appetites 3:33
- 2 Dirty Knails 3:06
- 3 Sleepless in Silverlake 3:41
- 4 Let’s Get Out of Here 3:33
- 5 Lips n’ Stuff 3:48
- 6 Poltergeist 3:42
- 7 High and Unhinged 3:53
- 8 Excess Energies 3:03
- 9 Dear Crutches 4:13
- 10 Calm Down 2:46
- 11 Clear Spirits 3:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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