10 songs that feel like Awful
Matched to Awful by Hole on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 98% feel-match — carries the same intense pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (112 BPM).
99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same layered texture.
Keeps the same intense pull — sits a little calmer at 53/100. Measured 98% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
Measures 98% the same. It sits a little calmer at 53/100. Same layered texture.
A 98% feel-match — carries the same intense pull and sits a little calmer at 53/100. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
98% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 53/100. Same layered texture.
Keeps the same intense pull — sits a little calmer at 53/100. Measured 98% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
Measures 98% the same. It sits a little calmer at 53/100. Same layered texture.
A 98% feel-match — carries the same intense pull and sits a little calmer at 53/100. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
98% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 53/100. Same layered texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Awful is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it measures markedly calmer overall. Intensity 49/100, down from 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It measures markedly calmer overall, so it lands at 49/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 49/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 49/100, versus the original's 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it eases off just enough to take the edge off. Intensity 53/100, down from 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It eases off just enough to take the edge off, so it lands at 60/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 50/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 50/100, versus the original's 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Awful” by Hole?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car” by U2, “Sex Dwarf” by Soft Cell, “Gates of Tomorrow” by Iron Maiden — the top match scores 98% 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 “Awful” but calmer?
“Warrior” by Steve Earle, “Condi Condi” by Steve Earle, “Rich Man's War” by Steve Earle keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Awful”?
It measures 60/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 7/10, layered texture, mild sudden shifts, and dynamic vocals. Tempo is 120 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 77% of songs, calmer than the other 23%. Its intensity reading of 60/100 comes from a dynamic range of 7/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and dynamic vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is blazing intensity: more extreme on that axis than 77% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — 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
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1998 in context
The 339 songs we’ve measured from 1998 average a dynamic range of 6.3/10. At 7/10, this track is louder and more dynamic than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?
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