16 artists like Idles
Matched on how their catalogues actually move — measured intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood across 20 Idles songs (averaging 80/100 intensity). Each one comes with the single song to start with.
Shares the same energetic register and plays calmer overall (59/100). 82 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (50/100), with the same cathartic register running through 26 measured songs.
25 measured songs that keep the same energetic register — plays calmer overall (59/100).
Shares the same rebellious register and plays calmer overall (60/100). 20 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (65/100), with the same introspective register running through 47 measured songs.
18 measured songs that keep the same energetic register — plays calmer overall (68/100).
Shares the same energetic register and plays calmer overall (52/100). 82 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (53/100), with the same cathartic register running through 57 measured songs.
20 measured songs that keep the same energetic register — plays calmer overall (53/100).
Shares the same emotional register and plays calmer overall (56/100). 20 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (41/100), with the same uplifting register running through 89 measured songs.
48 measured songs that keep the same introspective register — plays calmer overall (49/100).
Shares the same energetic register and plays calmer overall (57/100). 57 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (70/100), with the same cathartic register running through 32 measured songs.
17 measured songs that keep the same energetic register — plays calmer overall (68/100).
Shares the same rebellious register and plays calmer overall (56/100). 17 of their songs measured.
Frequently asked
What artists sound like Idles?
The closest matches we measure are Foo Fighters, The Police, The Clash. Artists are matched by how their catalogs actually move — average intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood — across 20 measured Idles songs, not by genre label or chart adjacency.
Which song should I start with?
Foo Fighters: “Your Favorite Toy” (93% feel-match); The Police: “Roxanne” (85% feel-match); The Clash: “Sandinista!” (86% feel-match). Each is that artist's single closest track to the Idles centre of gravity, so it's the least jarring way in.
How intense is Idles overall?
Across 20 measured songs, Idles averages 80/100 on our intensity scale. Individual songs vary — see the full catalog breakdown on their artist page.
How do you decide two artists are similar?
Every song is measured on 8 dimensions (intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force, fine sound detail). We compare an artist's catalogue centre of gravity to every other artist's, then weight shared mood tags. Matches cross genre and era, because the measurements don't know what genre is.
Want matches for one specific song instead of a whole catalogue?
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