What makes Una Volta by DeVotchKa notable?

Una Volta received critical acclaim and helped propel DeVotchKa into the spotlight, particularly after their music was featured in the film Little Miss Sunshine. The album's blend of genres and instrumentation has influenced many artists within the indie and folk rock scenes, showcasing a distinct melding of styles that resonated strongly with listeners. Released in 2003, Una Volta marked DeVotchKa's third studio album, following their breakthrough with 2000's Supermelodrama. This album solidified their unique sound and artistic vision, blending diverse cultural influences into a cohesive musical statement as they began to gain wider recognition in the indie music scene.

Who is Una Volta for?

Una Volta works well if you're into short bursts of vibrant energy, cinematic soundscapes for daydreaming and emotional highs and lows.

How many songs are on Una Volta?

Una Volta has 11 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Una Volta

DeVotchKa · 2003

41 min · 11 tracks · folk rock

A rich tapestry of eclectic sounds weaving together folk, rock, and Eastern European influences with a cinematic flair.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Queen of the Surface Streets — This track encapsulates the band's ability to fuse vivid storytelling with lush instrumentation, creating an atmospheric experience that reflects their signature style.
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Commerce City Sister — With its driving rhythm and poignant lyrics, this song showcases DeVotchKa's knack for marrying emotional depth with energetic melodies.
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La Llorrona — This haunting rendition highlights the band's talent for incorporating traditional motifs into contemporary arrangements, enhancing its cultural resonance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

Una Volta blends diverse influences with strong craftsmanship, making it distinctive within its genre.

What we noticed

The album opens with a vibrant orchestration that combines strings and brass, setting a cinematic tone that persists throughout.
The use of multiple languages in the lyrics adds a layer of cultural depth, particularly in tracks like 'Vengo! Vengo!' and 'La Llorrona'.
The final track fades out with a haunting vocal arrangement, leaving a lingering emotional resonance.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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

short bursts of vibrant energy
cinematic soundscapes for daydreaming
emotional highs and lows
intimate moments of reflection

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward song structures
want constant high-energy tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 2003, Una Volta marked DeVotchKa's third studio album, following their breakthrough with 2000's Supermelodrama. This album solidified their unique sound and artistic vision, blending diverse cultural influences into a cohesive musical statement as they began to gain wider recognition in the indie music scene.
Stylistic neighbors: The Lumineers· Sufjan Stevens· Iron & Wine

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 C'est Ce La 1:15
2 The Oblivion 4:56
3 Death by Blonde 3:34
4 Queen of the Surface Streets 5:26
5 One Last Vow 4:52
6 Vengo! Vengo! 4:52
7 Miette 0:41
8 Ocean of Lust 3:31
9 C'est Ce La, Part II 3:36
10 Commerce City Sister 3:45
11 La Llorrona 4:51

What to play next

Listen next

How It Ends

2004

Go back to

Triple X Tango

2002

Full DeVotchKa discography Artists like DeVotchKa

folk rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata