Dub, by how it feels

Dub leans intense. 10 of the 71 songs analyzed hit hard — but 9 calm anchors exist for sensory-friendly entry points.

The character of Dub

Across the 71 Dub songs we've measured, intensity averages 44/100 — right around the catalog average (46/100).

They run from Exchange (the calmest here, 10) to Bird in Hand (the most charged, 69), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1973–2025.

The widest dynamic swing belongs to Ashtray Wasp.

6.2
Avg Intensity
9
Safe
52
Moderate
10
Intense

Safe for sensitive ears (9)

Album art for Beachfires by Burial
Beachfires
Burial
safe
Album art for Subtemple by Burial
Subtemple
Burial
safe
♪
Untitled
Burial
safe
Album art for A Love International by Khruangbin
A Love International
Khruangbin
safe
Album art for August 10 by Khruangbin
August 10
Khruangbin
safe
Album art for Hold Me Up (Thank You) by Khruangbin
Hold Me Up (Thank You)
Khruangbin
safe
♪
Roots of Dub
King Tubby
safe
♪
Exchange
Massive Attack
safe
Album art for Spying Glass by Massive Attack
Spying Glass
Massive Attack
safe

Controlled — moderate intensity (52)

Album art for Eyesdown by Bonobo
Eyesdown
Bonobo
moderate
Album art for Etched Headplate by Burial
Etched Headplate
Burial
moderate
♪
Ghost Hardware
Burial
moderate
Album art for Hiders by Burial
Hiders
Burial
moderate
Album art for In McDonalds by Burial
In McDonalds
Burial
moderate
Album art for Kindred by Burial
Kindred
Burial
moderate
Album art for Near Dark by Burial
Near Dark
Burial
moderate
Album art for Nightmarket by Burial
Nightmarket
Burial
moderate
Album art for Rival Dealer by Burial
Rival Dealer
Burial
moderate
Album art for State Forest by Burial
State Forest
Burial
moderate
Album art for Street Halo by Burial
Street Halo
Burial
moderate
Album art for Untrue by Burial
Untrue
Burial
moderate
Album art for New York Is Killing Me by Gil Scott-Heron
New York Is Killing Me
Gil Scott-Heron
moderate
Album art for NY Is Killing Me by Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
NY Is Killing Me
Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
moderate
Album art for Far Nearer by Jamie xx
Far Nearer
Jamie xx
moderate
♪
Pelota
Khruangbin
moderate
Album art for Dub Fi Gwan by King Tubby
Dub Fi Gwan
King Tubby
moderate
Album art for Dub Organiser by King Tubby
Dub Organiser
King Tubby
moderate
♪
Dub from the Roots
King Tubby
moderate
♪
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown
King Tubby
moderate
♪
King Tubby Meets the Aggrovators
King Tubby
moderate
Album art for King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown by King Tubby
King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown
King Tubby
moderate
♪
King Tubbys Hometown Hi-Fi
King Tubby
moderate
♪
King Tubbys Specials
King Tubby
moderate
Album art for King at the Control by King Tubby
King at the Control
King Tubby
moderate
♪
Living Dub
King Tubby
moderate
♪
Open the Gate
King Tubby
moderate
♪
Outernational Dub
King Tubby
moderate
♪
Outsider Dub
King Tubby
moderate
♪
Strictly Dub
King Tubby
moderate

Intense — proceed with awareness (10)

Album art for Ashtray Wasp by Burial
Ashtray Wasp
Burial
intense
Album art for Come Down to Us by Burial
Come Down to Us
Burial
intense
Album art for Loner by Burial
Loner
Burial
intense
Album art for Temple Sleeper by Burial
Temple Sleeper
Burial
intense
Album art for I'm New Here by Gil Scott-Heron
I'm New Here
Gil Scott-Heron
intense
Album art for Me and the Devil by Gil Scott-Heron
Me and the Devil
Gil Scott-Heron
intense
Album art for Eosophobia by Jack White
Eosophobia
Jack White
intense
♪
Bird in Hand
Lee "Scratch" Perry
intense
Album art for I Am a Madman by Lee "Scratch" Perry
I Am a Madman
Lee "Scratch" Perry
intense
Album art for Blackboard Jungle Dub by Lee Scratch Perry
Blackboard Jungle Dub
Lee Scratch Perry
intense

Want Dub recommendations tuned to your ears?

Build your listening profile