Silver Ladder
Peter Mulvey · 2014
34 min · 12 tracks · Americana
A tapestry of intimate storytelling woven into folk melodies that evoke nostalgia and reflection.
Top tracks — play these first
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You Don't Have to Tell Me — This track encapsulates the album's exploration of vulnerability and honesty, balancing light-hearted instrumentation with deeper emotional truths about relationships.
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Copenhagen Airport — With its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, this song captures the essence of longing and disconnection, making it a standout moment on the album.
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If You Shoot at a King You Must Kill Him — This closing track blends narrative intensity with a reflective quality, serving as both a culmination of themes present throughout the album and a provocative statement on accountability.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and craftsmanship but remains within familiar Americana territory.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces slower ballads that create a reflective atmosphere.
- Many tracks utilize a combination of acoustic guitar and subtle string arrangements, enhancing the storytelling aspect of the lyrics.
- Several songs incorporate repeated melodic motifs that evolve throughout their verses, adding depth to the overall composition.
- 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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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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- reflective storytelling in short bursts
- gentle melodies for quiet moments
- intimate songs for personal reflection
- thoughtful lyrics for deep listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefers high-energy, fast-paced music
- seeks lengthy, sprawling compositions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When Peter Mulvey released Silver Ladder in 2014, he was already an established figure in the Americana scene, building on a career that began with his debut album in 1993. This album followed his 2011 release, Letters from a Flying Machine, and showcased his continued evolution as a songwriter focused on personal narratives and social observations.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Greg Brown· John Gorka· Dar Williams
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Lies You Forgot You Told 2:24
- 2 You Don't Have to Tell Me 2:29
- 3 Sympathies 2:32
- 4 Remember the Milkman 2:47
- 5 What Else Was It? 3:40
- 6 Trempealeau 3:16
- 7 Where Did You Go? 3:42
- 8 Josephine 2:58
- 9 Back in the Wind 2:55
- 10 Copenhagen Airport 2:25
- 11 If You Shoot at a King You Must Kill Him 4:25
- 12 Landfall 1:07
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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