Ugly Season
Perfume Genius · 2022
52 min · 10 tracks · indie pop
A haunting blend of avant-pop and experimental soundscapes that evoke deep emotional landscapes and visceral experiences.
Top tracks — play these first
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Teeth — This track stands out for its raw energy and vulnerability, combining sharp lyrics with an infectious chorus that encapsulates the album's themes of self-acceptance.
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Pop Song — With a playful yet poignant approach, this track deconstructs pop conventions while delivering a powerful message about identity and visibility.
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Ugly Season — The title track embodies the album's essence, blending lush instrumentation with a reflective narrative about transformation and acceptance of one's flaws.
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Hellbent — This song features intense vocal delivery layered over unsettling instrumentals, illustrating the struggle between desire and self-doubt that permeates the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's innovative structures and emotional depth create a compelling listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, atmospheric track that gradually builds layers of sound, creating a sense of anticipation.
- Several tracks feature unconventional song structures, with abrupt shifts in tempo and dynamics that challenge traditional pop forms.
- The use of sparse instrumentation in some songs allows for the vocal melodies to take center stage, emphasizing emotional delivery.
- 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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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- 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
- haunting soundscapes for introspection
- emotional exploration through varied pacing
- immersive sessions for deep focus
- cathartic moments of vulnerability
Maybe skip if you
- prefer immediate gratification
- seek upbeat party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in June 2022, Ugly Season is Perfume Genius' fifth studio album, following the acclaimed Set My Heart on Fire Immediately. At this point in his career, Mike Hadreas had solidified his reputation as an innovator in indie pop, with this album marking a significant exploration into more abstract and theatrical territory.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sufjan Stevens· FKA twigs· James Blake
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Teeth
The singer confronts insecurity by vividly describing their physical attributes in a way that shifts from shame to empowerment.
This shift in perspective showcases a reclamation of personal narrative, transforming vulnerability into a source of strength.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Just a Room 3:29
- 2 Herem 7:21
- 3 Teeth 4:13
- 4 Pop Song 5:05
- 5 Scherzo 3:50
- 6 Ugly Season 4:40
- 7 Eye in the Wall 8:42
- 8 Photograph 4:41
- 9 Hellbent 6:41
- 10 Cenote 3:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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