Wildlife
La Dispute · 2011
57 min · 14 tracks · post-hardcore
A raw exploration of emotional turmoil driven by intricate instrumentation and heartfelt, spoken-word delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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King Park — This track masterfully interweaves narrative storytelling with haunting instrumentals, capturing the essence of loss and community grief. Its lengthy structure allows for deep emotional exploration.
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You and I in Unison — A poignant closing track that contrasts vulnerability with powerful instrumentation, encapsulating the overarching themes of connection and struggle found throughout the album.
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a Letter — This song stands out for its intimate lyrics and minimalist arrangement, creating a sense of immediacy that draws listeners into the narrator's emotional landscape.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Wildlife's intricate storytelling and varied structures create a compelling emotional journey.
What we noticed
- The album features spoken-word sections interspersed with intense instrumental passages, creating a dynamic contrast between calm and chaos.
- The lyrics are deeply narrative, with each song telling a distinct story that connects to broader themes of emotional struggle and community.
- The final track serves as a reflective conclusion, revisiting motifs from earlier songs while providing a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- contemplative storytelling experiences
- wave-like pacing fluctuations
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time La Dispute released Wildlife in 2011, they had already established themselves within the post-hardcore scene with their previous album, Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair. This album marked a significant evolution in their sound, showcasing a more mature lyrical approach and expanding their sonic palette to incorporate diverse influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pianos Become the Teeth· Defeater· Being as an Ocean
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 a Departure 3:32
- 2 Harder Harmonies 3:35
- 3 St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Blues 3:46
- 4 Edit Your Hometown 2:55
- 5 a Letter 3:49
- 6 Safer in the Forest/Love Song for Poor Michigan 4:36
- 7 The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit 3:55
- 8 a Poem 2:59
- 9 King Park 6:54
- 10 Edward Benz, 27 Times 5:45
- 11 I See Everything 3:37
- 12 a Broken Jar 2:19
- 13 all our bruised bodies and the whole heart shrinks 5:04
- 14 You and I in Unison 4:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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