Solidarity
Joel Plaskett · 2017
38 min · 11 tracks · folk music
A vibrant blend of acoustic melodies and introspective lyrics, weaving personal stories with broader social themes.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Next Blue Sky — This track encapsulates the album's hopeful tone, blending reflective lyrics with a catchy melody that invites listeners to embrace optimism amidst uncertainty.
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Help Me Somebody Depression Blues — The raw honesty in this song stands out as it tackles mental health struggles with a blend of humor and vulnerability, showcasing Plaskett's ability to address serious topics.
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Solidarity — The title track serves as a rallying cry for unity and collective action, highlighting Plaskett's commitment to social issues through its compelling narrative and engaging chorus.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines strong storytelling with varied tempos and harmonies, making it engaging yet accessible.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature a steady build in tempo and intensity, culminating in the more reflective fourth track, which slows down significantly.
- Several songs incorporate layered harmonies that enhance the storytelling aspect, particularly in 'Solidarity' where the chorus features multiple vocal lines.
- The album closes with a gradual fade-out on 'On Down the River', creating a sense of resolution after the thematic explorations throughout.
- 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
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
- reflective storytelling with warmth
- short tracks for quick listens
- thought-provoking themes and narratives
- conversational tone for engagement
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time Joel Plaskett released Solidarity in 2017, he was already an established artist known for his dynamic sound and storytelling. This album followed his acclaimed 2015 release, The Park Avenue Sobriety Test, marking a continuation of his exploration into folk rock and narrative songwriting while deepening his engagement with socio-political themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sam Roberts· The Weakerthans· Hayden
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Dragonfly 4:16
- 2 The Next Blue Sky 3:52
- 3 We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years 3:23
- 4 Blank Cheque 3:27
- 5 Help Me Somebody Depression Blues 2:57
- 6 Up in the Air 4:05
- 7 Jim Jones 4:33
- 8 The New California 2:13
- 9 No Sight Compares 2:53
- 10 Solidarity 4:19
- 11 On Down the River 2:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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