What Normal Was
Billy Howerdel · 2022
42 min · 10 tracks · rock music
Melodic rock textures blend introspective lyrics with a lush soundscape, reflecting a journey through vulnerability and self-discovery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Selfish Hearts — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its catchy melodies and reflective lyrics, encapsulating themes of personal struggle and emotional honesty.
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Beautiful Mistake — This track stands out for its intricate guitar work combined with heartfelt vocals, illustrating the tension between regret and acceptance in relationships.
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Bring Honor Back Home — With its anthemic chorus and driving rhythm, this song captures a sense of urgency and longing for connection, representing the album's overarching themes of identity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and production but lacks a strong cohesive flow throughout.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track introduces a more subdued arrangement with softer instrumentation.
- Several songs feature layered vocal harmonies that create a rich texture, particularly in the choruses.
- The album closes with an ambient instrumental piece that contrasts sharply with the preceding lyrical content, providing a reflective ending.
- 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
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.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Ani
A pivotal moment occurs when the perspective shifts from reflection to direct address, creating an intimate connection with the listener.
This shift transforms the narrative, allowing for deeper emotional engagement as Howerdel confronts personal experiences head-on.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Selfish Hearts 2:50
- 2 Free And Weightless 3:42
- 3 Ani 4:24
- 4 The Same Again 3:32
- 5 Beautiful Mistake 5:12
- 6 Poison Flowers 5:32
- 7 Follower 3:59
- 8 Bring Honor Back Home 3:45
- 9 EXP 3:56
- 10 Stars 5:09
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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