Released 10 years ago
We Can Do Anything
Violent Femmes · 2016
30 min · 10 tracks · alternative rock
A reflective blend of folk punk and alternative rock that captures the essence of nostalgia and introspection.
Top tracks — play these first
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Memory — This opening track sets the reflective tone of the album, merging upbeat instrumentals with poignant lyrics about nostalgia and personal growth.
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I Could Be Anything — This song encapsulates the theme of potential and self-discovery, featuring catchy melodies that contrast with its introspective lyrics.
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Traveling Solves Everything — With its driving rhythm and relatable narrative about seeking escapism through travel, this track highlights the band's folk punk roots.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends reflective lyrics with varied tempos but lacks strong cohesion across its runtime.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a mid-tempo track that sets a reflective tone, and the following tracks maintain a similar pace with occasional shifts to faster rhythms.
- Lyrically, the songs often feature conversational structures, where verses feel like personal anecdotes rather than traditional storytelling.
- Several tracks incorporate layered instrumentation that builds gradually, particularly in the choruses, creating a sense of emotional uplift.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- 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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- conversational intimacy throughout tracks
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- vibrant melodies for sing-alongs
- short bursts of engaging narratives
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy immersive experiences
- seek high-energy dance tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2016, We Can Do Anything is the Violent Femmes' first studio album in over a decade, following their 2005 release, Freak Magnet. The album marks a return to form for the band, showcasing their signature sound while also exploring new lyrical themes of maturity and self-reflection.
- Stylistic neighbors
- They Might Be Giants· Pavement· The Smiths
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Untrue Love
The verses unravel a story of betrayal, where the singer addresses feelings of deceit directly towards an unnamed partner.
The directness of addressing betrayal contrasts with the more abstract themes found elsewhere on the album, creating a moment of raw honesty.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Memory 3:03
- 2 I Could Be Anything 3:42
- 3 Issues 3:05
- 4 Holy Ghost 2:35
- 5 What You Really Mean 3:51
- 6 Foothills 2:43
- 7 Traveling Solves Everything 2:58
- 8 Big Car 2:55
- 9 Untrue Love 3:16
- 10 I’m Not Done 2:12
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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