What makes The Blind Wink by Tenement notable?

This album garnered attention for its innovative approach to punk, particularly in its lo-fi production and lyrical depth, earning praise from critics. It contributed to Tenement's rising status in the DIY punk community, eventually leading to their recognition in various underground music circles. The Blind Wink is Tenement's debut studio album, released in 2011 after their earlier EPs. At this point, the band was establishing their presence within the punk rock scene, showcasing a distinctive sound that combined urgency with introspective lyrics.

How many songs are on The Blind Wink?

The Blind Wink has 11 tracks, running approximately 27 minutes.

The Blind Wink

Tenement · 2011

27 min · 11 tracks · punk rock

A frenetic blend of punk energy and melodic hooks wrapped in lo-fi, raw production aesthetics.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Medical Curiosity — This track encapsulates the album's themes of existential exploration through a punchy rhythm and incisive lyrics that challenge societal norms.
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Lost Love Star Lust — Blending quick tempos with a catchy chorus, this song highlights the band's knack for balancing raw emotion with infectious melodies.
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Cage That Keeps You In — The song offers a critique of confinement and societal pressures, standing out for its poignant lyrics set against a driving punk backdrop.
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(Messy Endings) In Middle America — This closing track serves as a reflective commentary on disillusionment, featuring a slower tempo that contrasts sharply with earlier tracks while maintaining emotional intensity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

51 /100

Foothills

Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

The album combines energetic punk with introspective lyrics, showcasing a distinctive sound within its genre.

What we noticed

The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high energy level, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter part.
Lyrically, the songs often explore introspective themes, contrasting the frenetic musical backdrop with reflective content.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

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 Viscous 0:55
2 Dreaming Out Loud #2 1:28
3 Medical Curiosity 3:17
4 Senile 5:18
5 Unreal 1:17
6 Lost Love Star Lust 1:58
7 The Pleasure We Get (In Scratching an Itch) 2:59
8 Cage That Keeps You In 2:18
9 Hey, Soozie 3:26
10 Hard to Say 2:47
11 (Messy Endings) In Middle America 2:01

What to play next

Listen next

Napalm Dream

2011

Go back to

Tenement / Used Kids

2009

Full Tenement discography Artists like Tenement

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