Shake Off the Demon
Brewer & Shipley · 1971
31 min · 10 tracks · folk rock
Folk rock melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, evoking a sense of longing and reflection on personal and societal issues.
Top tracks — play these first
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Shake Off the Demon — The title track serves as a powerful anthem about overcoming adversity, encapsulating the album's central themes of resilience and hope.
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Merciful Love — This track showcases a gentle melody paired with tender lyrics that reflect on love's nurturing qualities, highlighting Brewer & Shipley's softer musical style.
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Rock Me on the Water — With vivid imagery and a contemplative tone, this song stands out for its lyrical depth and emotional resonance, embodying the essence of folk rock storytelling.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong melodies and thoughtful lyrics, creating a cohesive folk rock experience.
What we noticed
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a rich texture, particularly in 'Merciful Love' and 'Natural Child'.
- The album's lyrics frequently address personal and societal themes, with a notable shift in mood from introspective to hopeful in the latter half.
- The final track, 'Sweet Love', closes the album with a gentle fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of contemplation.
- 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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6/10
- 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 reflective moments
- introspective themes of longing
- for quiet afternoons
- gentle melodies for searching
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced excitement
- seek high-energy party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in November 1971, 'Shake Off the Demon' was Brewer & Shipley's fourth studio album, following their breakthrough success with 'One Toke Over the Line.' At this point in their career, the duo was seeking to expand their musical palette while maintaining their roots in folk rock, experimenting with more complex themes and arrangements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Simon & Garfunkel· The Mamas & the Papas· America
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Shake Off the Demon
The bridge shifts from a personal struggle to a call for collective resilience against life's challenges.
This transition invites listeners to transcend individual experiences and unite around shared human triumphs.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Shake Off the Demon 3:08
- 2 Merciful Love 1:58
- 3 Message From the Mission (Hold On) 3:09
- 4 One by One 2:58
- 5 When Everybody Comes Home 1:58
- 6 Working on the Well 3:17
- 7 Rock Me on the Water 4:00
- 8 Natural Child 3:46
- 9 Back to the Farm 3:18
- 10 Sweet Love 3:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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