Top tracks — play these first
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Sugar Crystals — This track exemplifies the album's lush textures with its swirling guitar effects and ethereal vocals, serving as a highlight of the band's melodic sensibilities.
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You Kids Should Know Better — With its dynamic shifts between quiet introspection and explosive choruses, this song captures the essence of Airiel's ability to balance tranquility and intensity.
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Mermaid in a Manhole — The haunting atmosphere and intricate instrumentation in this track showcase the band's talent for creating immersive soundscapes, making it a standout piece on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends lush soundscapes and layered guitars effectively, though it follows familiar shoegaze patterns.
What we noticed
- The first track is an ambient introduction that sets a dreamy tone, leading into the more structured melodies of the subsequent tracks.
- Several songs feature layered guitar effects that create a wall of sound, with vocals often buried in the mix, enhancing the ethereal quality.
- The album includes moments of dynamic contrast, such as sudden shifts from quiet verses to explosive choruses, particularly evident in 'You Kids Should Know Better'.
- The final track, 'The Big Mash-Up', combines elements from previous songs, creating a sense of closure while also feeling expansive.
- 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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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
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.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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You Kids Should Know Better
A shift in tone occurs when the lyrics directly confront youthful naivety, delivering a raw reflection on growing pains amidst swirling melodies.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Introduction 3:28
- 2 Thinktank 4:21
- 3 Thrown Idols 3:32
- 4 Sugar Crystals 5:16
- 5 You Kids Should Know Better 7:59
- 6 Mermaid in a Manhole 4:36
- 7 Stay 6:16
- 8 Peoria 5:13
- 9 The Release 2:48
- 10 Red Friends 5:10
- 11 The Big Mash-Up 14:43
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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