Six
Mansun · 1998
70 min · 13 tracks · indie rock
A sprawling exploration of eclectic sounds, shifting between art rock, pop hooks, and complex arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Six — The title track encapsulates the album's ambition with its lengthy structure and intricate melodies, setting an avant-garde tone for the record.
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Cancer — This track stands out for its haunting lyrics and dynamic shifts in tempo, exemplifying the band's unique blend of dark themes and melodic hooks.
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Being a Girl — With a catchy chorus and playful lyrics, this song highlights Mansun's ability to merge accessible pop sensibilities with deeper lyrical content.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Mansun's 'Six' showcases eclectic sounds and complex arrangements, making it distinctive within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features layered instrumentation and shifts in dynamics, setting a complex tone.
- Several tracks incorporate abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Inverse Midas' which transitions from a slow build to an energetic climax.
- The use of unconventional song structures is evident, with tracks like 'Witness to a Murder (Part Two)' featuring extended instrumental sections.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes of existentialism and introspection, often employing abstract imagery.
- 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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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
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
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- wave-like pacing and intensity
- introspective late-night vibes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released as Mansun's second studio album, 'Six' followed their debut 'Attack of the Grey Lantern' which had brought them significant commercial success. By this point in their career, Mansun was navigating the pressures of maintaining their popularity while evolving their sound into a more ambitious and experimental direction.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Cancer
The narrative shifts to confront mortality directly, utilizing stark imagery that challenges listeners to grapple with uncomfortable truths.
This moment deviates from typical song structures by integrating fragmented storytelling that reflects the chaotic nature of existence.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Six 8:07
- 2 Negative 4:21
- 3 Shotgun 6:38
- 4 Inverse Midas 1:44
- 5 Anti Everything 2:25
- 6 Fall Out 3:47
- 7 Serotonin 2:33
- 8 Cancer 9:31
- 9 Witness to a Murder (Part Two) 3:06
- 10 Television 8:21
- 11 Special/Blown It (Delete as Appropriate) 5:32
- 12 Legacy 6:33
- 13 Being a Girl 7:59
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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