Released 20 years ago
What If It Works?
The Loud Family · 2006
43 min · 12 tracks · power pop
A vibrant blend of melodic hooks and witty lyrics, capturing the essence of power pop with a playful yet introspective spirit.
Top tracks — play these first
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Rocks Off — This opening track sets an energetic tone with its infectious chorus and sharp lyrics about desire and disillusionment. Its dynamic arrangement showcases the band's knack for blending humor with poignant themes.
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Total Mass Destruction — This song stands out for its darkly comedic take on existential themes, merging upbeat instrumentation with a satirical edge that reflects current societal anxieties.
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(Kind of) In Love — This track captures the essence of vulnerability in relationships through its playful yet sincere lyrics, demonstrating the band's ability to balance emotional depth with catchy pop sensibilities.
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Don't Bother Me While I'm Living Forever — As a closing track, it encapsulates the album's themes of introspection and existential reflection, combining a rich sonic landscape with thought-provoking lyrics that linger long after listening.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong melodies and clever lyrics but lacks a fully cohesive flow across its runtime.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a brisk pace, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter part.
- Several tracks feature intricate vocal harmonies layered over driving guitar riffs, typical of power pop's melodic style.
- Lyrical themes often blend humor with introspection, as seen in the contrast between upbeat melodies and reflective lyrics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- 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
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
- playful introspection with catchy hooks
- short bursts of vibrant energy
- lighthearted sing-alongs with friends
- brief tracks for quick listens
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- seek deep emotional weight
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2006, What If It Works? is The Loud Family's fifth studio album, following their 2004 release, Days for Days. At this stage, the band was solidifying its identity within the power pop genre, showcasing a matured sound while still retaining their trademark humor and clever songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Posies· Big Star· Matthew Sweet
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Rocks Off 3:58
- 2 Song About "Rocks Off" 3:11
- 3 Pop Song 99 3:03
- 4 Total Mass Destruction 4:13
- 5 Flow Thee Water 2:48
- 6 Remember You 2:26
- 7 (Kind of) In Love 2:49
- 8 Mavis of Maybelline Towers 3:17
- 9 I Think I See the Light 4:12
- 10 What If It Works? 3:36
- 11 Don't Bother Me While I'm Living Forever 5:57
- 12 I've Been Craving Lately 3:59
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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