What makes The Worst You Can Do Is Harm by The Long Winters notable?

The album garnered critical acclaim, showcasing the band's ability to weave personal narratives with engaging melodies. It established The Long Winters within the indie rock landscape and influenced a generation of artists seeking to merge storytelling with catchy hooks. The Worst You Can Do Is Harm is The Long Winters' debut album, released in 2002 after frontman John Roderick gained recognition as part of the Seattle music scene. This release marked the beginning of their exploration into lyrical depth and melodic complexity, setting the stage for their subsequent works.

How many songs are on The Worst You Can Do Is Harm?

The Worst You Can Do Is Harm has 10 tracks, running approximately 43 minutes.

The Worst You Can Do Is Harm

The Long Winters · 2002

43 min · 10 tracks · indie rock

Melodic indie rock interlaces intricate storytelling with vibrant instrumentation and a sense of wistfulness throughout its tracks.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Give Me a Moment — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its introspective lyrics and rich instrumentation, capturing the listener's attention immediately.
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Samaritan — The track stands out for its clever wordplay and upbeat tempo, juxtaposing serious themes with an infectious melody that highlights the band's unique style.
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Medicine Cabinet Pirate — This song features intricate storytelling about escapism and self-discovery, showcasing Roderick's knack for vivid imagery and emotional depth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album combines melodic storytelling with intricate instrumentation, establishing a solid foundation for future work.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of layered guitar melodies that create a rich, textured sound across all tracks.
Lyrically, the songs often employ narrative storytelling, with characters and scenarios that unfold over the course of each track.
The tempo varies throughout, with several tracks starting at mid-tempo before transitioning to more upbeat sections, particularly in the choruses.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

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 Give Me a Moment 5:50
2 Carparts 4:05
3 Samaritan 2:44
4 Mimi 5:06
5 Medicine Cabinet Pirate 5:04
6 Unsalted Butter 4:47
7 Government Loans 4:10
8 Scent of Lime 4:04
9 Copernicus 5:26
10 [untitled] 2:37

What to play next

Listen next

When I Pretend to Fall

2003

Full The Long Winters discography Artists like The Long Winters

indie rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata