What makes The Madding Crowd by Nine Days notable?

This album features the hit single Absolutely (Story of a Girl), which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received significant radio play. Its success helped define the sound of early 2000s pop rock and introduced Nine Days to a broader audience, cementing their status in the genre. The Madding Crowd is Nine Days' debut album, released in 2000 when they were still relatively unknown. The band was building momentum after gaining attention from their earlier EPs, making this release a pivotal moment in establishing their presence in the rock scene.

How many songs are on The Madding Crowd?

The Madding Crowd has 12 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

The Madding Crowd

Nine Days · 2000

53 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock

Catchy melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, creating an accessible blend of alternative and pop rock sensibilities.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Absolutely (Story of a Girl) — This track became the band's signature song, celebrated for its catchy chorus and narrative-driven lyrics that resonated with listeners during its time.
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So Far Away — Opening the album, this track sets the tone with its introspective lyrics and melodic hooks, showcasing the band's blend of emotional depth and pop sensibility.
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Bitter — A standout for its more somber themes, this song highlights the band's range and ability to tackle complex emotions while maintaining their melodic appeal.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

43 /100

Lowland

Higher than 2% of albums we've rated

The album showcases catchy melodies and solid songwriting but lacks standout depth or innovation.

What we noticed

The first five tracks maintain a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the subsequent tracks introduce more varied tempos and dynamics.
Several songs feature layered vocal harmonies that create a rich texture, particularly in the choruses.

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

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Sometimes

The bridge shifts perspective, introducing a sense of urgency and vulnerability that contrasts with earlier verses focused on reflection.

This shift deepens the emotional complexity of the song, allowing listeners to feel the weight of uncertainty alongside the narrator.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 So Far Away 3:56
2 Absolutely (Story of a Girl) 3:09
3 If I Am 4:18
4 End Up Alone 3:57
5 Sometimes 5:14
6 Bob Dylan 4:35
7 257 Weeks 4:04
8 Bitter 6:21
9 Back to Me 4:00
10 Crazy 4:14
11 Revolve 3:54
12 Wanna Be 6:03

What to play next

Listen next

So Happily Unsatisfied

2002

Go back to

Three

1998

Full Nine Days discography Artists like Nine Days

alternative rock pop rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata