Still Crooked
Crooked Still · 2008
44 min · 13 tracks · bluegrass music
A blend of traditional bluegrass and contemporary folk, with haunting harmonies and intricate instrumentation that evoke deep emotion.
Top tracks — play these first
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Undone in Sorrow — This track opens the album with a reflective tone, showcasing the band's ability to merge sorrowful lyrics with an uplifting melody, setting the emotional groundwork for the entire record.
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Captain, Captain — With its captivating storytelling and tight harmonies, this song exemplifies the band's folk influences while highlighting their virtuosic instrumentation, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Wading Deep Waters — This track features rich vocal interplay and intricate banjo work that captures the essence of Crooked Still’s style, blending traditional bluegrass with contemporary themes of longing and introspection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and skilled musicianship while blending traditional and contemporary styles.
What we noticed
- The final track, 'Baby What's Wrong With You?', closes with an extended instrumental outro that contrasts with the lyrical focus of earlier songs.
- 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
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
- haunting harmonies and intricate melodies
- gentle storytelling in short bursts
- reflective moments of quiet contemplation
- emotional depth in concise tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat, high-energy songs
- want extensive instrumental experimentation
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2008, Still Crooked is Crooked Still's third studio album, following their 2006 breakthrough, Shaken by a Low Sound. At this point in their career, the band solidified their unique sound, integrating elements of bluegrass with modern sensibilities and expanding their audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Punch Brothers· Nickel Creek· The Wood Brothers
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Undone in Sorrow 3:05
- 2 The Absentee 2:27
- 3 Captain, Captain 2:42
- 4 Tell Her to Come Back Home 2:57
- 5 Low Down and Dirty 4:07
- 6 Oh, Agamemnon 4:04
- 7 Pharaoh 4:42
- 8 Florence 3:28
- 9 Did You Sleep Well? 4:07
- 10 Poor Ellen Smith 2:44
- 11 Theme From "The Absentee" 0:24
- 12 Wading Deep Waters 4:12
- 13 Baby What's Wrong With You? 5:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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