The Broadside Ballads
The Baseball Project · 2011
44 min · 16 tracks · rock music
A playful blend of rock and storytelling, capturing the quirks of baseball culture through catchy melodies and clever lyrics.
Top tracks — play these first
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Cubs 2010 — This track cleverly encapsulates the trials and hopes of Chicago Cubs fans during a tumultuous season, blending humor with heartfelt sentiment.
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(Do the) Triple Crown — With its infectious chorus, this song celebrates the rare achievement in baseball while serving as a fun anthem for fans and players alike.
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The Ballad of Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson — This narrative-driven song recounts a bizarre chapter in baseball history, showcasing the band's storytelling prowess amid entertaining musicality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends storytelling with rock, appealing to niche audiences through its unique themes.
What we noticed
- Each song tells a distinct story related to baseball, often using specific historical references and character-driven narratives.
- The album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, with only a few tracks deviating into faster or slower rhythms.
- Several tracks incorporate playful instrumentation, such as horns and handclaps, which enhance the storytelling aspect.
- The lyrics often employ clever wordplay and baseball terminology, making them engaging for both music fans and sports enthusiasts.
- 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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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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
- playful narratives about baseball culture
- steady mid-tempo for sing-alongs
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- catchy melodies for lighthearted vibes
Maybe skip if you
- seeking deep emotional complexity
- prefer lengthy immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2011, The Broadside Ballads is The Baseball Project's third studio album, following their previous work, High and Inside. At this point in their career, the band had solidified their niche in combining indie rock with baseball lore, continuing to explore themes from America's pastime while honing their sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Decemberists· Wilco· The Mountain Goats
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 All Future and No Past 2:33
- 2 Cubs 2010 2:59
- 3 30 Doc 3:06
- 4 Lima Time! 2:13
- 5 Phenom 3:04
- 6 (Do the) Triple Crown 3:29
- 7 DL Blues 3:06
- 8 The Way It’s Gonna Be 2:43
- 9 The Giants Win the Pennant 3:07
- 10 Blood Diamond 2:55
- 11 Golden Sombrero 2:16
- 12 The Ballad of Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson 2:29
- 13 Dizzy Dean 2:51
- 14 El Hombre 2:24
- 15 The Magic Mitt of Jason Byles 1:37
- 16 Show Up to Work Every Day 3:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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