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10 songs that feel like Criticism as Inspiration

Matched to Criticism as Inspiration by Pedro the Lion on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.

The song you love
Criticism as Inspiration
Pedro the Lion
moderate 38/100 intensity 80 BPM
Happiness — Taylor Swift moderate 80 BPM

A 99% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

For Everyman — Jackson Browne moderate 80 BPM

99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Same layered texture.

The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp — George Harrison moderate 80 BPM

Keeps the same contemplative pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

Unsent — Alanis Morissette moderate 80 BPM

Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Same layered texture.

Toll — Kevin Morby moderate 80 BPM

A 99% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

Wander — Kevin Morby moderate 80 BPM

99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Same layered texture.

No Halo — Kevin Morby moderate 80 BPM

Keeps the same contemplative pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

Many Levels of Loathing — Kevin Morby moderate 80 BPM

Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Same layered texture.

Bystanders — Kevin Morby moderate 80 BPM

A 99% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

Movies — Weyes Blood moderate 80 BPM

99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Same layered texture.

…and if you want it calmer

Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Criticism as Inspiration is more than you want right now.

Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino by Arctic Monkeys
Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino — Arctic Monkeys safe 85 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 6. Intensity 13/100, down from 38. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Mr. Schwartz by Arctic Monkeys
Mr. Schwartz — Arctic Monkeys safe 85 BPM

Its dynamic range stays a gentler 4 where the original climbs to 6, so it lands at 16/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Überlin by R.E.M.
Überlin — R.E.M. safe 92 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while its dynamic range stays a gentler 4 where the original climbs to 6. Reads 17/100.

Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan
Blowin' in the Wind — Bob Dylan safe 80 BPM

Holds the same feel while its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 6. 12/100, versus the original's 38. Nearly the same tempo, too.

If I Were a Boy by Beyoncé
If I Were a Boy — Beyoncé safe 92 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but nothing in it lurches or startles. Intensity 28/100, down from 38.

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
Kind of Blue — Miles Davis safe 90 BPM

Nothing in it lurches or startles, so it lands at 22/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Across the Universe by The Beatles
Across the Universe — The Beatles safe 69 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while nothing in it lurches or startles. Reads 27/100.

Thumbing My Way by Pearl Jam
Thumbing My Way — Pearl Jam safe 80 BPM

Holds the same feel while nothing in it lurches or startles. 23/100, versus the original's 38. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Frequently asked

What songs sound like “Criticism as Inspiration” by Pedro the Lion?

The closest feel-matches we measure are “Happiness” by Taylor Swift, “For Everyman” by Jackson Browne, “The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp” by George Harrison — the top match scores 99% alike. Matching is by how the songs actually move (intensity, dynamic range, texture, tempo, predictability, vocal force), not by genre tag or popularity.

What songs are like “Criticism as Inspiration” but calmer?

“Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino” by Arctic Monkeys, “Mr. Schwartz” by Arctic Monkeys, “Überlin” by R.E.M. keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.

How intense is “Criticism as Inspiration”?

It measures 38/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 6/10, layered texture, mild sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Tempo is 80 BPM.

How do you decide which songs are similar?

Every song in our catalog is measured on 8 dimensions — intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force and fine sound detail. Similarity is the distance between two songs across those measurements, so matches cross genres and eras. Shared mood tags break ties.

By the numbers: how this song compares

Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.

Where it sits in 19,000 songs

On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 27% of songs, calmer than the other 73%. Its intensity reading of 38/100 comes from a dynamic range of 6/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and soft vocals. It shares this stretch of the spectrum with thousands of other tracks, so the finer fingerprint below is what really separates it.

What makes it unusual

What stands out most about this song is a slow, unhurried pace: more extreme on that axis than 85% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.

Feels almost identical to

Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.

What it’s good for

Sleep6/10
Focus10/10
Workout2/10
Dinner8/10
Party / hype2/10

Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.

2002 in context

The 332 songs we’ve measured from 2002 average a dynamic range of 6.3/10. At 6/10, this track is right in line with its year.

Mixes smoothly with

Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.

The fingerprint

Intensity38
Dynamics56
Tempo22
Surprise25
Density33
Predictability50
Vocal force25
Trigger load13

The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.

Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?

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