This Is Not a Safe Place
Ride · 2019
66 min · 14 tracks · alternative rock
Swirling guitars and introspective lyrics intertwine, creating a lush soundscape that balances nostalgia with modern alternative rock sensibilities.
Top tracks — play these first
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R.I.D.E. Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Future Love — The track features a pulsing rhythm and ethereal vocals, encapsulating the album's themes of longing and uncertainty in an ever-evolving world.
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Eternal Recurrence — This song showcases a hypnotic atmosphere with layered instrumentation, reflecting on cyclical patterns of life and existence, a central motif throughout the album.
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Clouds of Saint Marie — A standout track that merges dreamy melodies with reflective lyrics, it evokes a sense of nostalgia while anchoring the thematic depth of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Ride's blend of shoegaze and modern rock creates a lush sound, though some tracks feel less cohesive.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied dynamics and tempo shifts.
- Several tracks incorporate layered guitar effects that create a dense, atmospheric sound, characteristic of shoegaze.
- The lyrics often reflect introspective themes, with vocal melodies intertwining with instrumental sections rather than dominating them.
- 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
- wave-like pacing of exploration
- reflective moments for deep thought
- dynamic shifts with resolution
- ethereal textures for immersive experience
- late-night introspection and dreaming
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Continues the band's evolution with modern production, showcasing their vitality post-reunion.
- Themes
- nostalgic longing· cyclical existence· modern uncertainty
- Career context
- Released in 2019, This Is Not a Safe Place is Ride's fifth studio album and marks their continued reunion phase since reforming in 2014. Following their acclaimed comeback record Weather Diaries, this album further explores their mature sound while drawing from shoegaze roots and contemporary influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- My Bloody Valentine· Slowdive· Lush
Tracklist
- 1 R.I.D.E. Start here 3:03
- 2 Future Love 3:38
- 3 Repetition 3:17
- 4 Kill Switch 2:45
- 5 Clouds of Saint Marie 3:53
- 6 Eternal Recurrence 5:48
- 7 Fifteen Minutes 3:13
- 8 Jump Jet 5:08
- 9 Dial Up 3:37
- 10 End Game 3:37
- 11 Shadows Behind the Sun 4:00
- 12 In This Room 8:42
- 13 Catch You Dreaming (Glok remix) 8:48
- 14 Pulsar (LC remix) 6:39
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Antisocialites
Alvvays
Shares a dreamy soundscape with introspective lyrics reflecting modern uncertainty and nostalgia.
Volcano
Temples
Balances swirling guitars with themes of cyclical existence in a lush, psychedelic atmosphere.
A Deeper Understanding
The War on Drugs
Combines expansive melodies and introspective lyrics, evoking a similar nostalgic longing within a modern context.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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