Julien Baker’s first attempt sounds like she’s alone in a dark room spilling out her problems with substance abuse, her fears about leaving her friends behind, and her worst break-ups; while the listener stands just outside, rooted to the spot.
With songwriting influences like Benjamin Gibbard and Elliot Smith, Baker jumps right into a sort of earnest truth-telling that I could tell was good because it started to make me feel a sweet sort of sad upon first listen. This album sounds like something Sharon Van Etten would have made when she was nineteen, which is to say it’s quite good, shockingly mature, and shows great future potential. This album is beautiful, soft, and it’ll make you feel things – all the makings of a good rainy day album or something to put on and make your listeners cry on the highway.
Recommended If You Like: Sharon Van Etten, Torres, Bon Iver, Death Cab for Cutie, Dashboard Confessional, Hop Along
Recommended Tracks: 6 (Something), 2 (Sprained Ankle), 1 (Blacktop), 4 (Everybody Does), 3 (Brittle Boned), 9 (Go Home)
Do Not Play: none
Written by Peg Wefald on 02/18/2016