Top tracks — play these first
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Hard Being Me Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its catchy hooks and reflective lyrics exploring the struggles of identity and self-acceptance.
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Heavenly Body — With its soaring melodies and anthemic chorus, this song showcases the band's signature space rock sound while maintaining a relatable theme of longing.
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Good Bye You — A poignant ballad that highlights emotional vulnerability, it features heartfelt lyrics paired with a powerful vocal performance, making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends classic rock elements with modern touches, but lacks standout tracks that elevate its overall impact.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature driving guitar riffs and energetic tempos, while the fourth track introduces a slower, more reflective pace.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies that enhance the melodic quality, particularly in the choruses.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- 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
- steady mid-tempo groove
- melodic hooks for sing-alongs
- reflective moments of nostalgia
- for road trips
- consistent flow throughout album
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced excitement
- seek experimental soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — The album marks a return after hiatus, showing continued vitality in their sound.
- Career context
- Released in 2006, The Monkey Puzzle marked UFO's return after a seven-year hiatus since their last studio album, Covenant. This period saw the band navigating lineup changes and reestablishing their presence in the hard rock scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Hawkwind· Blue Öyster Cult· Deep Purple
Tracklist
- 1 Hard Being Me Start here 3:35
- 2 Heavenly Body 3:52
- 3 Some Other Guy 4:38
- 4 Who's Fooling Who 3:57
- 5 Black and Blue 5:29
- 6 Drink Too Much 4:40
- 7 World Cruise 3:29
- 8 Down by the River 3:18
- 9 Good Bye You 4:40
- 10 Rolling Man 4:24
- 11 Kingston Town 4:08
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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