This Dragon Won't Sleep
Don Ross · 1995
60 min · 13 tracks · new acoustic music
Intricate fingerstyle guitar weaves together emotive melodies and rhythmic complexities in a vibrant showcase of new acoustic music.
Top tracks — play these first
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Godzilla — This opening track features playful yet complex rhythms that immediately highlight Ross's virtuosity while setting a whimsical tone for the album.
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This Dragon Won't Sleep — The title track combines intricate melodies with emotional depth, showcasing Ross's ability to convey storytelling through instrumental music.
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Any Colour But Blue — With its expansive arrangements and heartfelt dynamics, this track exemplifies the emotional range that defines much of Ross's work.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong guitar composition and craftsmanship, with varied tempos and a cohesive flow despite some dips in energy.
What we noticed
- The album features intricate fingerstyle guitar work, with melodies often interwoven with complex rhythms across nearly all tracks.
- The last three tracks slow down significantly, allowing for a reflective conclusion to the album's energetic beginning.
- 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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6/10
- 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
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intricate melodies for focused listening
- short tracks with varied themes
- emotive guitar for reflective moments
- playful rhythms for light moods
Maybe skip if you
- prefer heavy, production
- seek straightforward, repetitive songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- This Dragon Won't Sleep is Don Ross's third studio album, released after his breakthrough effort, 1994's 'Passion Session'. By this time, Ross had begun to establish himself as a significant figure in the new acoustic music scene, blending technical prowess with heartfelt expression. The album solidified his reputation for innovative guitar work and was pivotal in expanding his audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Andy McKee· Michael Hedges· Kaki King
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Godzilla 2:55
- 2 Head & Heart 3:27
- 3 Obrigado (Egberto) 4:43
- 4 This Dragon Won't Sleep 4:26
- 5 Yoyomama 4:28
- 6 Any Colour But Blue 6:30
- 7 Groovy Sunflowers 3:45
- 8 Afraid To Dance 3:20
- 9 Tierra Maya 4:22
- 10 Catherine (new version) 7:45
- 11 Au Jardin D'Amour 4:45
- 12 Big Steps in Little Shoes 3:24
- 13 Zarzuela (new version) 6:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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