Is This Is What I Live For a good place to start with Blue October?

Yes, This Is What I Live For is recommended as a starting point for new Blue October listeners. Melodic alternative rock intertwines introspective lyrics with anthemic choruses, encapsulating a journey of personal resilience and love. This is Blue October's eighth studio album, released in 2020, following their 2018 record 'I Hope You're Happy'. The band was experiencing a resurgence after overcoming past struggles, both personally and professionally, which informed the emotional depth of this release.

Who is This Is What I Live For for?

This Is What I Live For works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, reflective moments of vulnerability and for introspective afternoons.

How many songs are on This Is What I Live For?

This Is What I Live For has 13 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

Released 6 years ago this October

This Is What I Live For

Blue October · 2020

58 min · 13 tracks · alternative rock

Melodic alternative rock intertwines introspective lyrics with anthemic choruses, encapsulating a journey of personal resilience and love.

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Top tracks — play these first

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I Laugh at Myself Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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This Is What I Live For — The title track serves as a heartfelt declaration of purpose and determination, encapsulating the album's central themes of hope and perseverance.
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I Will Follow You — This song combines rich melodies with poignant lyrics about loyalty and commitment, showcasing the band's signature blend of vulnerability and strength.
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The Way I Used to Love You — This track stands out for its reflective tone, addressing the complexities of past relationships while emphasizing growth and self-awareness.

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 anthemic choruses with introspective lyrics, creating a solid but conventional alternative rock experience.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
Choruses are often anthemic, with layered vocal harmonies that contrast with the introspective verses.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
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.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with emotional peaks
reflective moments of vulnerability
for introspective afternoons
melodic strength for quiet evenings

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced instant hits
seeking purely upbeat tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and exploration of themes after a resurgence.
Themes: personal resilience· past relationship reflection· commitment in love
Career context: This is Blue October's eighth studio album, released in 2020, following their 2018 record 'I Hope You're Happy'. The band was experiencing a resurgence after overcoming past struggles, both personally and professionally, which informed the emotional depth of this release.
Stylistic neighbors: Anberlin· The Fray· Lifehouse

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Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Stay With Me

The speaker directly pleads for companionship during vulnerable times.

This direct appeal contrasts with earlier verses that maintain a more introspective tone, shifting to a raw expression of need and connection.