Top tracks — play these first
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Vienna — Vienna stands as Ultravox's signature track, featuring haunting melodies and a dramatic arrangement that exemplifies the pinnacle of their artistic vision.
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Hymn — With its anthemic chorus and powerful instrumentation, Hymn captures the band's ability to blend emotional depth with sophisticated pop sensibilities.
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Dancing With Tears in My Eyes — This track combines catchy hooks with a thematic exploration of loss and longing, showcasing Ultravox's lyrical prowess alongside their musical innovation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
This compilation highlights Ultravox's evolution but lacks the cohesion of a fully realized album.
What we noticed
- Several songs utilize layered synths and prominent bass lines, characteristic of the new wave genre, while maintaining a consistent vocal style.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- 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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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- wave-like emotional ebb and flow
- reflective moments of nostalgia
- dynamic collection for varied moods
- engaging sing-alongs with friends
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Starting Point — This compilation serves as an accessible entry for new listeners to Ultravox's hits.
- Career context
- Released in 2003, The Best of Ultravox marks a retrospective collection of the band's most impactful tracks, highlighting their evolution from early synth-pop pioneers to mainstream success. This compilation comes after a long hiatus following their original breakup in 1993, revitalizing interest in their innovative sound during the burgeoning nostalgia for 80s music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gary Numan· Kraftwerk· Depeche Mode
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hymn
The bridge shifts perspective, addressing collective yearning for connection amidst isolation.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Sleepwalk 3:13
- 2 Waiting 3:52
- 3 Passing Strangers 3:51
- 4 Vienna 4:38
- 5 Passionate Reply 4:18
- 6 The Voice 4:24
- 7 Hymn 4:25
- 8 Monument 3:17
- 9 We Came to Dance 4:09
- 10 Dancing With Tears in My Eyes 4:05
- 11 Reap the Wild Wind 3:46
- 12 Love’s Great Adventure (live) 3:08
- 13 White China 3:46
- 14 All Fall Down 5:09
- 15 Dreams? 2:32
- 16 All in One Day 4:17
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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