What makes Story Like a Scar by The New Amsterdams notable?

Story Like a Scar received critical acclaim for its lyrical introspection and acoustic arrangements, helping to solidify The New Amsterdams' place within the emo and indie rock genres. The album's success was highlighted by its ability to resonate with listeners through its exploration of personal themes, contributing to the broader narrative of indie music in the mid-2000s. Released in 2006, Story Like a Scar marked The New Amsterdams' third studio album, following their previous release, Worse for the Wear. By this time, frontman Matt Pryor had established himself as a notable figure in the indie music scene, building on his experiences from his work with The Get Up Kids. This album reflects a maturation of sound and thematic depth, showcasing Pryor's evolution as a songwriter.

How many songs are on Story Like a Scar?

Story Like a Scar has 10 tracks, running approximately 29 minutes.

Released 20 years ago

Story Like a Scar

The New Amsterdams · 2006

29 min · 10 tracks · acoustic music

Introspective acoustic melodies intertwine with poignant lyrics, creating a reflective and melancholic atmosphere throughout the album.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Death of Us — Opening with haunting instrumentation, this track sets an emotional tone that encapsulates the album's exploration of loss and reflection.
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Your Ghost — This song showcases Pryor's poignant storytelling, blending vulnerability with vivid imagery that resonates deeply within the narrative framework of the album.
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Beautiful Mistake — With its catchy melody and introspective lyrics, this track represents the balance between hope and despair that characterizes much of the album's emotional landscape.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

55 /100

Foothills

Higher than 45% of albums we've rated

The album's introspective melodies and cohesive structure create a reflective listening experience.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features tracks that maintain a consistent mid-tempo, while the second half introduces more varied pacing and dynamics.
Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
The final track is a reprise of an earlier song, creating a thematic closure that reflects on the album's central motifs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 3/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 The Death of Us 4:15
2 Turn Out the Light 4:22
3 Bad Liar 1:44
4 Past the Pines 2:10
5 Your Ghost 5:24
6 Intelligent Design 1:23
7 Calendar Days 2:04
8 Beautiful Mistake 3:17
9 A Small Crusade 3:44
10 Turn Out the Light (reprise) 0:46

What to play next

Listen next

At the Foot of My Rival

2007

Go back to

Worse for the Wear

2003

Full The New Amsterdams discography Artists like The New Amsterdams

acoustic music

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata