Released 10 years ago
The Narrows
Grant-Lee Phillips · 2016
54 min · 13 tracks · alternative rock
A blend of introspective folk melodies and alternative rock energy, exploring themes of place and identity with vivid storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Tennessee Rain — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its lush instrumentation and vivid imagery of longing and nostalgia, encapsulating the emotional depth Phillips is known for.
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Cry Cry — With its poignant lyrics about heartache and resilience, this track showcases Phillips' ability to blend melancholy themes with compelling melodies, making it a standout moment on the album.
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San Andreas Fault — This closing track serves as a powerful culmination of the album's themes, using metaphors of natural disasters to explore personal upheaval, highlighting Phillips' lyrical prowess.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting with evocative lyrics but lacks a strong cohesive flow throughout its length.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks incorporate layered instrumentation, with strings and subtle percussion enhancing the folk-rock sound.
- Lyrically, the album employs vivid imagery and storytelling that connects personal experiences to broader themes of place and identity.
- 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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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
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
- reflective storytelling with depth
- steady pacing for thoughtful listening
- suitable for quiet afternoons
- gradual emotional build throughout
- introspective journey through themes
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, upbeat music
- seek standalone hit tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When Grant-Lee Phillips released The Narrows in 2016, he was in a phase of artistic rejuvenation, following his previous album, Walking in the Green Corn (2015). This work came after a period of relative quiet since his last studio effort, marking a return to a more personal and reflective songwriting style that continues to define his career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jeff Buckley· Nick Drake· The Jayhawks
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Tennessee Rain 4:45
- 2 Smoke and Sparks 3:39
- 3 Moccasin Creek 2:38
- 4 Cry Cry 4:18
- 5 Holy Irons 4:34
- 6 Yellow Weeds 5:12
- 7 Loaded Gun 2:41
- 8 Rolling Pin 3:27
- 9 Taking on Weight in Hot Springs 3:40
- 10 Just Another River Town 4:03
- 11 No Mercy in July 4:41
- 12 San Andreas Fault 5:42
- 13 Find My Way 4:52
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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