Source Tags & Codes
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead · 2002
48 min · 13 tracks · art rock
A dynamic fusion of art rock and post-hardcore, characterized by sweeping melodies and explosive instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Another Morning Stoner — This track captures the album's essence with its infectious energy and poignant lyrics about disillusionment, making it a standout anthem for a generation.
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Heart in the Hand of the Matter — With its dramatic build and introspective themes, this song exemplifies the band's ability to blend complexity with emotional depth.
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Source Tags & Codes — The closing track encapsulates the album's ambitious soundscape, weaving together motifs established throughout while exploring themes of identity and existence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases dynamic shifts and strong arrangements, contributing to its distinct sound within the genre.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a slow build of layered instrumentation, leading into a sudden shift to a more aggressive sound in the second track.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Another Morning Stoner', which transitions from quiet verses to explosive choruses.
- The album includes moments of silence or minimal instrumentation that create tension before returning to full instrumentation, particularly evident in 'How Near How Far'.
- 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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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- 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
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing and dynamics
- layered, dense sonic textures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead released Source Tags & Codes as their third studio album, following their critically acclaimed record, Madonna. By this point in their career, they were establishing themselves as a force in the art rock scene, known for their ambitious sound and theatrical live performances.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Explosions in the Sky· Godspeed You! Black Emperor· The Mars Volta
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Invocation 1:31
- 2 It Was There That I Saw You 3:57
- 3 Another Morning Stoner 4:33
- 4 Baudelaire 4:16
- 5 Homage 3:29
- 6 How Near How Far 3:54
- 7 Life Is Elsewhere 0:55
- 8 Heart in the Hand of the Matter 4:48
- 9 Monsoon 5:53
- 10 Days of Being Wild 3:26
- 11 Relative Ways 4:03
- 12 After the Laughter 1:15
- 13 Source Tags & Codes 6:08
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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