Glass Beach Discography Ranking

Glass Beach Discography Ranking

Please note that this is a ranking of the 38* publicly available songs on Spotify, and excludes Bandcamp/special releases, demos, or any other place where Glass Beach has released music. All opinions are just that, opinions, and I tried to give somewhat of a subjective standpoint for a majority of the songs. Any strong language used is exaggeration! :3

*only one glass beach version of orchids

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1. bedroom community
    1. Part of its position as top has to do with the memories attached to this song, but in an objective sense, this is such a wonderfully well executed presentation of the bands skill in not only writing, but musical talent and ability to convey complex emotions. It’s the first song I’d listened to, and is personally the most enjoyable listen on their discography.

2. orchids (both ver)
    1. A perfect finale, it just *sounds* like the end of an awesome journey. The lyrics paint such a vivid picture in my imagination, and I feel like I’m at peace every single time the song ends. I’m not going to pretend like I fully grasp the lyrics, but when it sounds as good as this, the lyrics (to me) just act as another instrument for this great song.

3. beach life in death
    1. I know it’s a cover. I know that the GB didn't write the lyrics. But this song is fantastic. I’ve listened to the original CSHR version, and while I can see their vision, I feel that J’s vocal performance on the track really enhances the absurd lyrics past what the original was able to achieve. The production is just as high of quality as any of their other songs, and I think that if ya haven’t listened to it, please please please give it a try.

4. classic j dies and goes to hell part 1
    1. On first listen, I enjoyed it, probably would be halfway down the first album’s ranking, but with each consecutive stream, and just giving more time for the lyrics to set in, this is worth every second spent listening. Each part is distinct in creating the atmosphere that just is glass beach, from the weird chord progs to the trumpet, to the layered choral vocals. Easily one of their best.

5. yoshi’s island
    1. A friend sent this to me about a year and a half before I started listening to GB regularly. I didn’t get it. The lyrics didn’t make sense and I was just kind of unimpressed because the only thing I had listened to was bedroom community, a high bar to pass. In that time, I’ve discovered more about myself, including my gnc gender identity. This song is an expression of emotions that I had been experiencing with no way to verbalize them. I love the sound of this track and the message and everything else about it.

6. glass beach
    1. “no one who loves you should make you feel alone” is all I can think about from this track. Yeah, it sounds great, and has a great bridge section, but the lyrics, the desperate cry for someone you care so much about really pushes this up here. It might just be my personal experience putting bias into my feelings about this track, but it’s just so emotional and raw.
    Also someone said that outside of listening to it, it’s kinda forgettable and I have to agree because I cannot imagine the melodies without them playing.

7. neon glow
    1. The synth/guitar that plays the melody on top of the vocals is super memorable and fits perfectly with the sound of the vocals. The bridge has a classic trumpet supporting the soft spoken vocals make it a great contrast. Maybe this is completely wrong/common knowledge, but orchids and this song seem like sister tracks to me, neon glow being the first, predicting the bombs that will eventually fall in orchids and end of the starlight “you look so cool” in

8. running
    1. The lyrics are very simple and don't have much depth past the surface level reading (imo), but the actual music is very fun and the chorus is extremely catchy. What really gets me is the overdriven guitar layered behind the vocals in the chorus. It has the perfect harmonies to the lead that give it a subtle oompf

9. bone skull
    1. The first half is ok, enjoyable and whatnot, but the second half, with the punchy drums and chorus’d vocals are really cool, and I’m a sucker for creative and quality production.

10. cold weather
    1. Honestly, I have no idea how this is their most listened to song. I mean, I do, it’s extremely well produced and lyrically perfect to be a semi-pop song that’s safe for all mainstream listeners. I think it’s a good song that deserves top 10, but should not be their most popular.

11. Planetarium *Shalfi
    1. I love Shalfi’s guitar tone on this track. If you like this song and haven’t listened to Lifespan of a Rivalry by Shalfi, please do, it is just like this and just as calming. I only have it above forever?? because of my infatuation with pretty guitar tones and expert level playing

12. Rat Castle (Skylar Spence Remix)
    1. So groovy!! This remix’s bells and bass are mesmerizing, and add such a cool funk to the original, personally I think it’s better than the original, but It had a super funky foundation to build off of. This is great for a non-vocal track, and something I love listening to.

13. jhariah dies and goes to hell
    1. Jhariah’s staple vocal chain is just as present here as all of his other songs. Their interpolation of the original just oozes stylistic creativity, and I can tell that they put a lot of love and care into the production. I will say, It doesn't carry the exact same amount of emotionality as the original, but completely makes up for this by being such a fun listen. Again, if ya haven't listened to any of their other songs, but like this one, Debt Collector is a great intro to their rock-y ballad-y style!
14. Calico (Emo Rocksteady Cover)
    1. You’re probably thinking “whaaaatttt the cover higher than the original???” and all I have to say to you is: I can understand the lyrics in this version ;-; . In the original, I was so lost and thought that the vocoded vocals were literally just vocalization (3 times fast (’-.-)). I didn't understand why people said it was such a cute song, but because of this cover, it makes complete sense and I really do love the cute cat!! In honor of its service to my understanding, It’s higher then the og.

15. classic j dies and gets a million streams
    1. I’ve already made a post about this before on the subreddit, but the first time this played in my car it scared me… whatever Layne added to the sonics of this production, its like crack. The super resonant bass mixed with the wide panning of different frequencies of the guitar. It’s amazing. Layne also said that it was a present for J and I cant help but smile imagining the band recording this as a present having fun together singing all of their parts. It’s nice to hear their voices and makes me appreciate each member so much. Good cover, good background story, great production. I would put it higher, but having 3 versions of the same song in the top 10ish seems kind of overkill so It’s here out of mercy.

16. blood rivers - onlytom remix
    1. I like blood rivers as much as the next person, but the rhythm and groove of this cover I feel is 10x as interesting as the original, and more upbeat. It’s a very good remix and gives the song a lot more value as a general playlist song. Ill talk about BR when we get to it at #27

17. Dallas (jackson from online cowboy billionare mix)
    1. I don't have a bunch to say as to why this is placed over the original, I just love the bass and percussion jfo added to it. While the vocals are kind of destroyed, the original dallas was not my favorite from the original album lyrically so I think its ok. Gives it a completely different vibe, like a fast paced action chase almost. P.S. "billionare" is misspelled (on purpose??)

18. calico
    1. As I said in the Emo Rocksteady cover explanation, I just *could not* understand what was being said, and so for the longest time, this was one of my lowest rated songs on the FGB album. After listening to the remix, it was greatly improved as I could just lose myself envisioning the CUTE FREAKIN CAT being held under the arms nddsjn. I probably should have just looked at the lyrics off the bat, but I don't usually do that so it was not on my mind. good song. (also I am terrible at lyrics in general so please don't kill me because I know its not that bad to make out, just me being bad at thinking :p)

19. (forever?????????)
    1. Extremely calming and perfect for a sleep playlist. The blend of soft synths on top of the light electric guitar is great to come down from a panic attack or any other stressful situation.

20. dallas
    1. 7 minutes of really serene imagery. Reminds me of a late night drive by yourself. I think it deserves to be halfway down their discography though, because upon first listen, yeah, It’s probably the weakest from their first album.

21. (rat castle)
    1. Other than 1015, this probably has the most unique sound out of all of the official glass beach songs. It builds from nothing to this weird plucky synth that perfectly matches the name (rat castle) and I makes a great intro to the next song on the album.
22. planetarium

    1. To be completely honest, I probably listened to the whole discography on shuffle 50 times before I listened to the FGB album in proper order for the first time. When rat castle transitioned into planetarium I was giddy with excitement. Its the type of transition I wish i could work into my own music and it’s pulled off so smoothly. The lyrics are so disorienting and eerie but backed by a happy upbeat track. I feel like I’m trying to stumble around while a panic attack builds. A weird but fun track, and only this low because I wanted to keep the continuity between rat castle and it for funsies.

23. 1015
    1. such. a. weird. song. I love it. The booming bass and the creative vocal performance leading into the overdriven fuzzy guitar is a great contrast. A great melody that can get stuck in your head easily if you’re not careful.

24. Neon Glow *Dogleg
    1. THE ENERGY brought by Dogleg to this already great song makes me pumped every time! But then the subdued bridge shows off the range they’re able to pull off. It’s a great cover that shows how well the original plays to the strengths of a skillful band.

25. soft!!!!!!
    1. Not my favorite vocal performance by J, but still really good. I think other songs on their discog are better at conveying the emotions and message this song shows.

26. neon glow (floral tattoo version)
    1. I really like the sound of this band’s cover, but what makes it lower than any of the others is the mixing. It sounds really compressed and makes it hard to pick out individual sounds. That’s not to say they didn’t bring their own special sauce to the song to make it their own.

27. (blood rivers)
    1. Listen, I make ambient music too, but when I’m in the mood for glass beach, an ambient track like this is not what I have in mind. It’s a really nice sonic soundscape that paints a depressing, but warm picture in the mind of the listener. It’s also better than anything I’ll ever make lol, but when I want to listen to glass beach as a whole, this one I feel stands out from the rest energy-wise.

28. yoshi’s island (world 7x7 mix)
    1. Its a good remix, but it takes out what makes me love the original so so much. The original had such an emotional message that I really resonated with, and the track itself supported it. This one is a jam to listen too, but doesn't fit the lyrics at all. (which I guess could be said about 99% of nightcore-like songs so I think it’s just a matter of what you hear first)

29. Bone Skull (Bartees Strange Remix)
    1. I don’t have that much of a reason to put this so low, because It’s a good song, It just cant fit anywhere else and doesn't change enough about the original to have anything of great note said about it.

30. Blood Rivers Remix
    1. Everything I said about the original blood rivers applies here, with the exception that, this does not seem to have a purpose for existing. And not in a bad way, just, why would you remix an ambient song to make it less ambient??? It’s not something that would fit even on a sleep playlist so :/

31. glass beach (ornamental ver)
    1. I think that TP’s vocal performance on this track fits the lyrics well, but their voice is just not my favorite. Good production, interpolation of the original, and understanding of what makes the track so good. But it just feels like a chore to listen to the voice. (I have not listened to any of Twinkle Park’s other songs and completely understand If others disagree with me on this. It’s just preference)

32. LOST!!!!!!!
    1. Ok, so this is the start of where we stray away from glass beach in most senses. It’s a good production, clean flow and lyrically dense, but the only glass beach-y thing here are the chords and J’s little vocal interpolation which doesn't really mix with the existing vocals. The second half is just nothing like the original and why it’s rated so low.

33. (FOREVER!!!!!!!!!) [WOW OK remix]
    1. Same thing as what I said in LOST!!, this just is not a glass beach song. It’s a bop for sure, and completely changes the function of the guitar in the original forever (good). I just can’t in good conscience rate something so not GB higher than even some of the 5-6/10 covers.

34. Orchids Reimagined
    1. If the original was a grand finale that tied together a nice storyline with neon glow and felt like the end of something great, then this is a confused directionless track that doesn't really have an emotion it seems to be going for. The vocal processing to get it so far from the original is extremely skillful, and I think there are some good harmonies/melodies, but It just doesn't hold a candle to what made the original so good.

35. (rat castle) (fantasyluv dreamix)
    1. I heavily relate to what makes this track so frustrating to listen too. Such a good build that prefaces a heavy, exciting drop. It falls short. I also cannot make a drop, and thus do not judge Fantasyluv at all for the wet fart that is 0:45. (I’m sorry for being harsh) but I think if the drop was just more satisfying, the track as a whole would be up in the top 20. Everything else about this is great and interpolates everything so well. The drop just ruins it :(

36. welcome to the black parade
    1. Just as the covers of most of GB’s songs could never surpass their original versions. This is such a case for such an amazing song. It places so low because I would never electively listen to this version over the original, and therefore don’t really count it as part of their discography. It’s well done, but just not as good as the original.

37. cold weather (GWIZ ‘180mph on the 405’ Remix)
    1. I literally laughed out loud the first time this track came on. There was a sound on tiktok that was a mutilated version of sweet caroline that used a super overdriven bass that was out of tune. This song is just that sound. It feel like GWIZ was having fun while making this track, but I cannot in good conscience put this any higher because of how stupid (in a good way) it sounds.



38. bathroom community
    1. the name explains it.

    I just dislike this song. A lot. I cant tell you why, but bedroom community being such a culture shock to me just blows this out of the water in every way possible.

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Even with the few outliers, every song glass beach has released has had obvious amounts of love poured into every second of it. In the past 6 months, they've surpassed every single artist on my all time list, dethroning people that had been up there for 4+ years because of the talented music they output. This took me so long to order and write because ordering half of these above each other feels like a crime. If you read all of these, or even just 1, I hope you can see why I put these in the spots they're in and I hope ya have a great day!!!  :3

-Ash