Songs to Remember
Scritti Politti · 1982
43 min · 9 tracks · new wave
A vibrant fusion of new wave and punk rock, marked by sharp lyricism and innovative production techniques.
Top tracks — play these first
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Asylums in Jerusalem — Opening with a blend of ethereal melodies and incisive lyrics, this track sets the tone for the album's intellectual exploration.
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Jacques Derrida — Named after the influential philosopher, this track exemplifies the band's penchant for merging avant-garde thought with accessible pop music.
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The Sweetest Girl — This track features lush instrumentation coupled with poignant lyrics about longing and love, encapsulating the emotional depth of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends innovative production with sharp lyricism, marking a significant debut in the new wave genre.
What we noticed
- Tracks frequently shift dynamics, with 'Faithless' featuring a sudden tempo change that contrasts sharply with the preceding songs.
- Lyrically, the album incorporates literary references, particularly in 'Jacques Derrida', which showcases an intellectual approach to songwriting.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- thoughtful exploration of complex themes
- vibrant energy for reflective moments
- melodic hooks that linger
- engaging narratives through sharp lyrics
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward, fast-paced music
- seek immediate, catchy singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Songs to Remember is Scritti Politti's debut album, released in 1982 after the band formed in the late 1970s. At this point, they were transitioning from their punk roots to a more sophisticated sound that would define their future work. The album showcases their early experimentation with pop structures while maintaining an intellectual edge.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Talking Heads· XTC· Devo
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Asylums in Jerusalem 3:14
- 2 A Slow Soul 3:17
- 3 Jacques Derrida 4:59
- 4 Lions After Slumber 6:10
- 5 Faithless 4:15
- 6 Sex 4:22
- 7 Rock-A-Boy Blue 5:51
- 8 Gettin’ Havin’ & Holdin’ 5:16
- 9 The Sweetest Girl 6:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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