Songs from the Novel 'Greatest Hits'
Kathryn Williams · 2017
52 min · 16 tracks · alternative rock
A delicate blend of folk and acoustic melodies paired with introspective lyrics that resonate with personal storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Wrote You a Love Song — This track stands out for its heartfelt simplicity and directness, capturing the essence of love with an earnestness that defines the album's emotional core.
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Common Ground — Opening the album, this song sets a reflective tone with its exploration of shared experiences and connection, encapsulating the thematic thread throughout.
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She Wears a Dress — With vivid imagery that paints a poignant picture of longing and nostalgia, this track exemplifies Williams' lyrical skill and melodic grace.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and craftsmanship but lacks strong cohesion due to its length and varied pacing.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, with guitar and piano as the primary vehicles for melody across most tracks.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies that enhance the storytelling aspect of the lyrics, particularly in tracks like 'I Wrote You a Love Song'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- 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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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
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
- wistful nostalgia in quiet moments
- intimate reflections for solitude
- gentle melodies for rainy days
- short tracks with emotional depth
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy anthems
- prefer standalone hits over cohesion
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2017, 'Songs from the Novel 'Greatest Hits'' marked Kathryn Williams' return after a five-year hiatus since her last studio album. By this point in her career, she had established herself as a respected figure in the UK folk scene, known for her poetic lyricism and emotive sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Lisa Hannigan· Laura Marling· Nick Drake
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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When Morning Comes
The moment shifts from darkness to light, illustrating a transition towards hope and renewal as day breaks.
This structural change emphasizes resilience, marking a pivotal moment within the narrative arc of the album.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Common Ground 4:15
- 2 Architect 2:54
- 3 Living Free 3:52
- 4 I Wrote You a Love Song 3:02
- 5 Just Us Two 2:12
- 6 Road of Shadows 2:45
- 7 Don't Step on the Cracks 3:03
- 8 She Wears a Dress 2:09
- 9 Lilies 3:31
- 10 Brightest Star 2:49
- 11 In This Garden 3:18
- 12 Queen of the Snow 3:21
- 13 Home 2:26
- 14 Edge of the World 3:50
- 15 Gethsemane 5:22
- 16 When Morning Comes 3:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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