Why There Are Mountains
Cymbals Eat Guitars · 2009
44 min · 9 tracks · indie rock
Ethereal soundscapes intertwine with jagged guitar riffs and introspective lyrics, creating a vivid tapestry of indie rock exploration.
Top tracks — play these first
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...And the Hazy Sea — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its sprawling instrumentation and layered vocals, showcasing the band's ability to balance melody and dissonance.
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Indiana — With its dynamic shifts and introspective lyrics, this track encapsulates the band's knack for storytelling while maintaining an energetic pace that resonates throughout the album.
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Like Blood Does — The closing track offers a cathartic release with its expansive sound and emotional depth, leaving listeners with a lasting impression of resilience amid turmoil.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends ethereal soundscapes with jagged riffs, showcasing strong writing but uneven execution.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a track that features layered guitars and ambient sounds, creating a dense atmosphere before introducing vocals.
- Several tracks incorporate abrupt shifts in dynamics, moving from quiet introspection to explosive choruses, particularly evident in 'Indiana' and 'What Dogs See'.
- The lyrics often explore themes of nature and personal reflection, with a focus on vivid imagery that complements the music's ethereal quality.
- 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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7/10
- 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.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 ...And the Hazy Sea 6:13
- 2 Some Trees (Merritt Moon) 2:28
- 3 Indiana 3:34
- 4 Cold Spring 5:49
- 5 Share 7:03
- 6 What Dogs See 4:15
- 7 Wind Phoenix (Proper Name) 5:16
- 8 The Living North 2:31
- 9 Like Blood Does 7:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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