Waves
Moving Mountains · 2011
40 min · 10 tracks · indie rock
Ethereal melodies intertwine with intricate guitar work, creating a lush sonic landscape that captures both introspection and expansive beauty.
Top tracks — play these first
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Where Two Bodies Lie — This track exemplifies the album's emotional depth, combining haunting lyrics with layered instrumentation that builds to an impactful crescendo, encapsulating vulnerability.
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Tired Tiger — The song features intricate guitar patterns and dynamic shifts that highlight the band's ability to balance delicate sounds with powerful moments, serving as a standout representation of their style.
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The Cascade — With its sweeping melodies and thoughtful lyrics, this track showcases the band's talent for crafting soundscapes that evoke a sense of longing and contemplation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and strong dynamics, creating an immersive listening experience.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks build gradually in intensity, layering vocals and instrumentation before reaching a climactic peak in the fourth track.
- Several tracks feature extended instrumental passages that allow for atmospheric exploration, with dynamic shifts that create tension and release.
- The album closes with a gradual decrescendo, where the final track fades out gently, leaving a lingering sense of reflection.
- 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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8/10
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
- steady, consistent energy levels
- gradual builds and payoffs
- immersive listening sessions
- emotive introspective moments
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on May 11, 2011, 'Waves' is Moving Mountains' sophomore album, following their self-titled debut from 2007. This album marked a significant maturation in their sound, showcasing a more refined approach to dynamics and composition as they navigated the indie rock landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Explosions in the Sky· The Appleseed Cast· Caspian
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Full Circle
The bridge shifts perspective, drawing the listener into a moment of reflection where past choices are confronted directly.
This structural change deepens the emotional impact by transitioning from third-person observations to a first-person reckoning.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 My Life Is Like a Chase Dream (and I’m Still Having Chase Dreams) 3:30
- 2 Where Two Bodies Lie 4:17
- 3 Tired Tiger 4:31
- 4 The Cascade 4:43
- 5 Once Rendering 3:55
- 6 Always Only for Me 3:50
- 7 Alleviate 2:56
- 8 Parts in Different Places 3:43
- 9 Furnace Woods 3:10
- 10 Full Circle 5:51
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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