Savage Hills Ballroom
Youth Lagoon · 2015
36 min · 10 tracks · pop music
Youth Lagoon's sound blends ethereal melodies with introspective lyrics, creating a haunting atmosphere that captures the complexities of modern life.
Top tracks — play these first
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Officer Telephone — This opening track sets the tone with its layered instrumentation and explores themes of confusion and anxiety, establishing the album’s emotional landscape.
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Rotten Human — A standout moment, this song delves into existential reflections with a driving rhythm and poignant lyrics, showcasing Powers’ lyrical depth.
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Free Me — With its soaring chorus and vulnerability, this track encapsulates the struggle for self-acceptance and liberation, resonating deeply with listeners.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends lush production with introspective songwriting, creating a distinct sound that resonates over time.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a track that features layered synths and a slow build, establishing a dreamy atmosphere that persists throughout.
- Several tracks incorporate abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Highway Patrol Stun Gun,' which shifts from a steady rhythm to a more frenetic pace.
- The use of reverb and echo effects on the vocals creates an ethereal quality, particularly evident in tracks like 'Doll's Estate' and 'Kerry.'
- The final track, 'X-Ray,' concludes with a gradual fade-out, leaving the listener in a reflective space.
- 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.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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No One Can Tell
The bridge presents a stark shift in perspective as it questions identity amidst societal expectations.
This structural change highlights the internal conflict faced by the narrator, enhancing the song's exploration of self-awareness.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Officer Telephone 3:02
- 2 Highway Patrol Stun Gun 4:10
- 3 The Knower 3:26
- 4 No One Can Tell 3:51
- 5 Doll's Estate 3:53
- 6 Rotten Human 4:28
- 7 Kerry 3:55
- 8 Again 3:45
- 9 Free Me 3:35
- 10 X-Ray 2:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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