Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 10, 2026

Know Better Learn Faster

Know Better Learn Faster is the second studio album by alternative folk band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. It was released on October 13, 2009 on the Kill Rock Stars label.

Last revised
Jul 10, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
398 w
Citations
9
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Know Better Learn Faster
Studio album by
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
ReleasedOctober 13, 2009
GenreRock
LabelKill Rock Stars
ProducerTucker Martine
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down chronology
We Brave Bee Stings and All
(2008) 		Know Better Learn Faster
(2009) 		We the Common
(2013)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/1001
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star2
Drowned in Sound7/103
Paste8.6/104
Pitchfork7.8/105
Under the RadarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar6

Know Better Learn Faster is the second studio album by alternative folk band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. It was released on October 13, 2009 on the Kill Rock Stars label.2

Background

"The record is primarily a response to the end of a relationship, so a lot of it is pretty reactionary. It’s trying to be introspective, but there’s always got to be a little 'fuck you' in there – or, sometimes there’s a lot."7

Title

Thao Nguyen explained the title of the album in an interview with KEXP: “The album is named ‘Know Better Learn Faster’ because you can't. By the time you realize you should, it's too late. And I enjoy the predicament and the totally devastating, unfunny humor of that.”8

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."The Clap"0:33
2."Cool Yourself"2:34
3."When We Swam"2:58
4."Know Better Learn Faster"3:49
5."Body"3:12
6."The Give"3:43
7."Good Bye Good Luck"2:22
8."Trouble Was For"2:47
9."Oh. No."2:46
10."Fixed It!"2:57
11."Burn You Up"2:28
12."But What of the Strangers"3:37
13."Easy"3:37
References

References

  1. "Know Better Learn Faster by Thao With The Get Down Stay Down Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  2. "Know Better Learn Faster - Thao & the Get Down Stay Down | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  3. Bliss, Abi (February 9, 2010). "Album Review: Thao and the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  4. Maddux, Rachael (October 13, 2009). "Thao with the Get Down Stay Down: Know Better Learn Faster". Paste. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  5. Deusner, Stephen M. (October 15, 2009). "Thao with the Get Down Stay Down: Know Better Learn Faster Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  6. Leebove, Laura (November 6, 2009). "Thao With the Get Down Stay Down: Know Better Learn Faster (Kill Rock Stars)". Under the Radar. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  7. "Warding off demons with Thao Nguyen (Interview) | Fuel/Friends Music Blog". www.fuelfriendsblog.com. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  8. Cullen, Brian. "Song of the Day: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – Know Better Learn Faster". The KEXP Blog. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
External links