Top tracks — play these first
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Careful Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Over and Over — This track exemplifies the band's knack for blending repetitive hooks with intricate production layers, making it a dancefloor favorite that highlights their unique style.
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And I Was a Boy From School — The song's reflective lyrics about nostalgia paired with an upbeat tempo encapsulate the album's duality of joy and introspection.
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Colours — With its rich textures and vibrant synth lines, this track captures Hot Chip's signature sound while exploring themes of identity and connection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends eclectic rhythms and introspective lyrics, showcasing strong production and memorable melodies.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature upbeat tempos and layered synths, while the fourth track introduces a more repetitive, dance-oriented groove.
- Several tracks incorporate unexpected shifts in dynamics, such as 'Tchaparian,' which contrasts quiet verses with explosive choruses.
- The album closes with two slower tracks that create a reflective mood, diverging from the earlier energetic pace.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- 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
Significant within its genre. 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
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- layered, dense sonic textures
- gradual builds and payoffs
Maybe skip if you
- quick, punchy songs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Solidified Hot Chip's reputation and wider recognition in the synth-pop scene.
- Themes
- nostalgic school days· quirky synth landscapes
- Career context
- Released in May 2006, The Warning is Hot Chip's second studio album, following their debut Coming on Strong. At this point in their career, the band was transitioning from underground acclaim to mainstream recognition, showcasing their ability to merge catchy hooks with thoughtful songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- LCD Soundsystem· Empire of the Sun· Cut Copy
Tracklist
- 1 Careful Start here 3:28
- 2 And I Was a Boy From School 5:19
- 3 Colours 5:28
- 4 Over and Over 5:47
- 5 (Just Like We) Breakdown 4:12
- 6 Tchaparian 3:20
- 7 Look After Me 4:49
- 8 The Warning 4:51
- 9 Arrest Yourself 2:31
- 10 So Glad to See You 4:05
- 11 No Fit State 5:38
- 12 Won’t Wash 2:35
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Shares an eclectic blend of introspective lyrics and danceable synth-driven rhythms.
Walking on a Dream
Empire of the Sun
Combines quirky melodies with vibrant synth landscapes and nostalgic themes.
Manners
Passion Pit
Features similar catchy hooks and introspective lyrics within a synth-pop framework.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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