What makes The Language of Cities by Maserati notable?

The Language of Cities received critical acclaim within the post-rock community, contributing to Maserati's status as a significant player in the genre. It showcased their unique blend of driving rhythms and complex melodies, influencing subsequent artists and helping to shape the sound of early 2000s post-rock. Released in 2002, The Language of Cities was Maserati's second studio album, following their self-titled debut in 2001. At this point, the band was establishing its identity within the post-rock genre, honing their instrumental prowess and atmospheric sound to create a more expansive listening experience.

How many songs are on The Language of Cities?

The Language of Cities has 8 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

The Language of Cities

Maserati · 2002

50 min · 8 tracks · post-rock

A sprawling soundscape intertwines intricate guitar work with hypnotic rhythms, creating an ethereal journey through sonic landscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Language — This track exemplifies the album's lush instrumentation and dynamic shifts, showcasing Maserati's ability to convey emotion without lyrics.
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Moving With Heavy Hearts — With its gradual build-up and climactic release, this track encapsulates the essence of post-rock through its emotional intensity and expansive structure.
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Cities — This song combines rhythmic intricacy with melodic exploration, serving as a pivotal moment that highlights the band’s evolving sound and thematic depth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and strong production, making it a notable entry in post-rock.

What we noticed

The album features extended tracks, with several exceeding six minutes, allowing for gradual development of themes and motifs.
Each track builds layers of sound, often starting with a single instrument before adding complexity through rhythmic and melodic elements.
The final track ends with a slow fade-out, creating a sense of closure that resonates with the album's overarching atmosphere.

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

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 Ambassador of Cinema 6:04
2 The Language 7:48
3 Moving With Heavy Hearts 7:59
4 Keep It Gold 2:53
5 Being a President Is Like Riding a Tiger 7:57
6 Cities 6:54
7 A Common Interest in Silence 2:49
8 There Will Always Be Someone Behind You 7:31

What to play next

Listen next

Inventions for the New Season

2007

Go back to

37:29:24

2001

Full Maserati discography Artists like Maserati

post-rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata