Stir the Blood
The Bravery · 2009
49 min · 14 tracks · post-punk
Gritty post-punk energy collides with sharp, synth-driven melodies and introspective lyrics throughout this dynamic album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hatef--k — This track encapsulates the album’s edgy aesthetic with its confrontational lyrics and driving beats, establishing it as a bold statement of artistic intent.
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Slow Poison — With its haunting melodies and introspective lyrics, this song showcases the band's ability to blend dark themes with catchy arrangements, making it a standout piece.
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Adored — 'Adored' opens the album with an infectious energy that sets the tone for the rest of the record, highlighting the band's signature sound evolution.
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 production but lacks strong cohesion and lasting impact.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several songs incorporate abrupt transitions between sections, creating a sense of urgency and tension throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- 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
- steady mid-tempo engagement
- introspective lyrics for reflection
- gritty energy for late nights
- dynamic remixes for fresh takes
Maybe skip if you
- seek instant gratification
- prefer longer immersive albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 2009, 'Stir the Blood' marked The Bravery's third studio album, following their 2007 release 'The Sun and the Moon'. At this point, the band was navigating a transitional phase after facing lineup changes and aiming to redefine their sound amidst a shifting music landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Interpol· The Killers· Franz Ferdinand
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hatef--k
The bridge introduces a stark contrast by shifting to a more vulnerable tone, revealing deeper emotional layers beneath the aggressive facade.
This moment disrupts the song's relentless intensity, allowing for a moment of reflection that emphasizes the complexity of desire and anger.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Adored 3:41
- 2 Song For Jacob 3:23
- 3 Slow Poison 3:32
- 4 Hatef--k 2:55
- 5 I Am Your Skin 3:03
- 6 She's So Bendable 2:23
- 7 The Spectator 3:50
- 8 I Have Seen The Future 3:15
- 9 Red Hands And White Knuckles 3:21
- 10 Jack-O'-Lantern Man 2:52
- 11 Sugar Pill 3:25
- 12 Slow Poison (Villains Remix) 4:29
- 13 Slow Poison (Drop The Lime Remix) 5:07
- 14 Slow Poison (Of Montreal Remix) 4:06
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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