Year of the Crow
State Radio · 2007
58 min · 13 tracks · alternative rock
A politically charged tapestry woven from folk, rock, and reggae influences, underscoring urgent social themes with a visceral energy.
Top tracks — play these first
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Guantanamo — This track serves as a powerful indictment of human rights abuses at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, setting the tone for the album's critical perspective on U.S. policies.
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Fall of the American Empire — The lengthy closing track encapsulates the album's themes of disillusionment and critique of American imperialism, blending haunting melodies with anthemic instrumentation.
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CIA — This song critiques covert government operations with a catchy yet incisive approach, effectively highlighting State Radio’s ability to combine rock with significant political commentary.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines varied influences with socio-political themes, creating a distinctive but uneven listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong political statement in 'Guantanamo', setting a tone that persists through the majority of the tracks.
- Several songs feature shifts in tempo and instrumentation, such as the transition from the driving rhythm of 'CIA' to the more reflective 'As With Gladness'.
- Lyrically, the album employs storytelling techniques, particularly evident in 'The Story of Benjamin Darling, Part 1', which unfolds a narrative across its verses.
- 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.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Omar Bay
The narrative shifts from personal stories to broader reflections on displacement and suffering caused by geopolitical conflicts.
This transition amplifies the emotional weight of individual experiences against the backdrop of larger systemic issues, showcasing intricate storytelling techniques.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Guantanamo 3:03
- 2 Unfortunates 2:21
- 3 The Story of Benjamin Darling, Part 1 3:57
- 4 CIA 3:38
- 5 Gang of Thieves 3:12
- 6 Fight No More 5:50
- 7 Barn Storming 3:35
- 8 Rash of Robberies 6:43
- 9 Omar Bay 4:14
- 10 As With Gladness 3:44
- 11 Wicker Plane 4:05
- 12 Sudan 3:52
- 13 Fall of the American Empire 10:26
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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