What makes The Common Task by Horse Lords notable?

The Common Task received significant acclaim from critics, often praised for its ambitious composition and intricate musicianship. It marked a notable entry into the realm of avant-garde rock, influencing other artists within the genre and contributing to conversations around post-rock's evolution in the 2020s. Released on March 13, 2020, The Common Task is Horse Lords' fourth album, following their critically acclaimed effort, Interventions. At this point in their career, the band had established a reputation for their innovative approach to experimental rock and were further expanding their sonic palette with more complex arrangements and thematic depth.

How many songs are on The Common Task?

The Common Task has 5 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

The Common Task

Horse Lords · 2020

41 min · 5 tracks

A swirling blend of polyrhythmic grooves and intricate guitar work that challenges traditional rock structures.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Fanfare for Effective Freedom — Opening the album with a bold proclamation, this track encapsulates the band's signature intertwining of rhythm and melody while setting a tone of liberation.
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Against Gravity — This track showcases the band's ability to build tension through repetitive motifs, creating an immersive experience that challenges listeners' perceptions of time and space.
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Integral Accident — Spanning nearly twenty minutes, this expansive piece illustrates the band's experimental spirit, exploring musical themes that ebb and flow with unexpected turns.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

71 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate structures and unique sound make it a notable entry in avant-garde rock.

What we noticed

Each track incorporates layers of interlocking guitar lines that build tension and release throughout their duration.
The use of extended instrumental passages allows for moments of improvisation, contrasting with the more structured sections.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 3/10

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 Fanfare for Effective Freedom 7:22
2 Against Gravity 7:49
3 The Radiant City 3:04
4 People's Park 4:20
5 Integral Accident 18:38

What to play next

Listen next

Comradely Objects

2022

Go back to

Mixtape IV

2017

Full Horse Lords discography Artists like Horse Lords

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata