Tarpits and Canyonlands
Bombadil · 2009
45 min · 15 tracks · traditional folk music
A whimsical blend of folk melodies and introspective lyrics, weaving stories of love and longing through charming arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Sad Birthday — This track captures the album's emotional core with its poignant lyrics that reflect on feelings of nostalgia and loss while maintaining an upbeat melody.
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Honeymoon — With its playful instrumentation and vivid storytelling, this song exemplifies Bombadil's knack for blending humor with heartfelt moments.
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So Many Ways to Die — This track stands out for its hauntingly beautiful arrangement and introspective lyrics that tackle themes of mortality and uncertainty in a surprisingly melodic way.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends whimsical folk melodies with introspective lyrics, creating a distinct yet cohesive sound.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat, whimsical melodies, while the second half shifts to more introspective and slower-paced tracks.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies that create a rich texture, particularly in tracks like 'Marriage' and 'Laurita'.
- The use of unconventional instruments, such as ukulele and glockenspiel, adds a playful element to the arrangements throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- 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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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
- whimsical narratives with vivid imagery
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- introspective moments of personal reflection
- playful melodies for lighthearted listening
- for afternoon wanderings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, cohesive albums
- seek high-energy party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2009, 'Tarpits and Canyonlands' marked Bombadil's third studio album, following their self-titled debut in 2008. By this point in their career, the band had begun to refine their sound, incorporating a diverse array of instruments and vocal harmonies that showcased their growth as songwriters.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Oh Hellos· Sufjan Stevens· The Paper Kites
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 I Am 1:32
- 2 Sad Birthday 3:09
- 3 Honeymoon 4:50
- 4 Reasons 2:24
- 5 Cold Runway 3:52
- 6 Oto the Bear 3:09
- 7 Prologue 0:50
- 8 So Many Ways to Die 4:44
- 9 Marriage 2:34
- 10 Laurita 2:42
- 11 Kuala Lampur 3:30
- 12 Pyramid 2:12
- 13 25 Daniels 3:20
- 14 Matthew 3:48
- 15 Kate and Kelsey 2:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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