What makes Suffocating the Bloom by Echolyn notable?

The album is significant for its ambitious structure, particularly the 'A Suite for the Everyman' section, which highlights their innovative approach to storytelling through music. Critics noted its intricate compositions, leading to a dedicated cult following that has influenced subsequent progressive rock bands. 'Suffocating the Bloom' is Echolyn's second studio album, released in 1992 following their self-titled debut. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their identity within the progressive rock scene, showcasing a more refined sound and lyrical depth compared to their earlier work.

How many songs are on Suffocating the Bloom?

Suffocating the Bloom has 21 tracks, running approximately 71 minutes.

Suffocating the Bloom

Echolyn · 1992

71 min · 21 tracks · progressive rock

Complex, dynamic arrangements intertwine with introspective lyrics to create a rich tapestry of emotional and musical exploration.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Memoirs From Between — This track exemplifies Echolyn's ability to blend complex musical themes with poignant lyrics, creating a narrative that resonates deeply with listeners.
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A Little Nonsense — The playful tone and catchy melody juxtapose the serious themes present throughout the album, showcasing the band's versatility and sense of humor.
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Suffocating the Bloom — The title track encapsulates the album's overarching themes of existential reflection and personal struggle, delivered through powerful instrumentation and emotive vocals.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

65 /100

Treeline

Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

Echolyn's intricate compositions and ambitious suite structure define this progressive rock album's distinctiveness.

What we noticed

The album features a lengthy suite, 'A Suite for the Everyman', which comprises nine interconnected tracks that explore various themes and musical motifs.

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

Influence 4/10

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 21 5:48
2 Winterthru 3:46
3 Memoirs From Between 8:01
4 Reaping the Harvest 1:41
5 In Every Garden 4:40
6 A Little Nonsense 3:37
7 The Sentimental Chain 1:40
8 One Voice 5:20
9 Here I Am 5:21
10 Cactapus 2:54
11 A Suite for the Everyman: Only Twelve 1:12
12 A Suite for the Everyman: A Cautious Repose 2:34
13 A Suite for the Everyman: Bearing Down 3:50
14 A Suite for the Everyman: Cash Flow Shuffle 0:39
15 A Suite for the Everyman: Mr. Oxy Moron 3:23
16 A Suite for the Everyman: Twelve's Enough 2:21
17 A Suite for the Everyman: I Am the Tide 1:15
18 A Suite for the Everyman: Cannoning in B Major 1:20
19 A Suite for the Everyman: Picture Perfect 0:53
20 A Suite for the Everyman: Those That Want to Buy 6:55
21 A Suite for the Everyman: Suffocating the Bloom 3:54

What to play next

Listen next

As the World

1995

Go back to

Echolyn

1991

Full Echolyn discography Artists like Echolyn

progressive rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata