This Is the Ice Age
Martha and the Muffins · 1981
51 min · 11 tracks · new wave
A shimmering blend of art pop and new wave, layered with reflective lyrics and infectious melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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Women Around the World at Work — This track stands out with its sharp commentary on gender roles and societal expectations, encapsulating the band's ability to merge catchy melodies with thought-provoking lyrics.
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This Is the Ice Age — The title track serves as a thematic centerpiece, exploring feelings of uncertainty and change through an atmospheric soundscape that reflects the era's cultural shifts.
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Casualties of Glass — With its hauntingly beautiful arrangement and introspective lyrics, this song highlights the emotional depth of the album while showcasing Martha and the Muffins' signature sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends new wave and pop effectively but lacks some cohesion in its pacing and structure.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a bright, synth-driven track that sets a mid-tempo pace, which is maintained through the first five songs before shifting to more introspective themes.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and intertwining melodies, creating a rich texture that enhances the lyrical content.
- The final three tracks slow down significantly, with 'I'm No Good at Conversation' featuring sparse instrumentation that contrasts with earlier tracks.
- 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
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
- reflective lyrics with infectious melodies
- patient unfolding of emotional themes
- vibrant energy for urban exploration
- short bursts of catchy hooks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer immediate, high-energy tracks
- want minimalistic, sparse arrangements
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1981, This Is the Ice Age marked Martha and the Muffins' second album, following their debut, Metro Music, which had established their presence in the Canadian new wave scene. The album showcased a more sophisticated sound and lyrical depth, signaling a maturation in their artistic approach as they sought to carve out a distinctive identity amidst the burgeoning genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The B-52's· Talking Heads· Devo
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Swimming 3:54
- 2 Women Around the World at Work 3:59
- 3 Casualties of Glass 5:17
- 4 Boy Without Filters 4:58
- 5 Jets Seem Slower in London’s Skies 2:36
- 6 This Is the Ice Age 7:34
- 7 One Day in Paris 4:20
- 8 You Sold the Cottage 4:01
- 9 Three Hundred Years / Chemistry 7:09
- 10 I’m No Good at Conversation 3:43
- 11 Twenty‐Two in Cincinnati 4:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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