It’s been subtle but Sharon Van Etten has slowly and effectively transformed
her musical approach since her debut in 2012. What was once a guitar-oriented
approach now features overt electronic textures, and spare, slow-building
production has been replaced with aggressive, effects-laden mixes that are
immediately grabbing.
Yet it is a testament to Van Etten’s powerful performing personality that she thrives no matter the background. On several songs on this album, her words are almost beside the point. She conveys her longing, desire and anguish often through just inflection and phrasing. Still, the best songs here are the ones that manage to strike a balance between the moody yet propulsive atmospherics and Van Etten’s insightful storytelling. “Seventeen” features the singer addressing her younger self, while “Comeback Kid” emerges from pouting, posing verses for a joyous bridge. Best of all is the stunner “No One’s Easy To Love,” which proves that Van Etten’s ability to dissect doomed relationships fits snugly in a shimmering, electro-pop setting.
Sharon Van Etten may be transforming, but she’s still triumphing.
(From American Songwriter #2/34)
Yet it is a testament to Van Etten’s powerful performing personality that she thrives no matter the background. On several songs on this album, her words are almost beside the point. She conveys her longing, desire and anguish often through just inflection and phrasing. Still, the best songs here are the ones that manage to strike a balance between the moody yet propulsive atmospherics and Van Etten’s insightful storytelling. “Seventeen” features the singer addressing her younger self, while “Comeback Kid” emerges from pouting, posing verses for a joyous bridge. Best of all is the stunner “No One’s Easy To Love,” which proves that Van Etten’s ability to dissect doomed relationships fits snugly in a shimmering, electro-pop setting.
Sharon Van Etten may be transforming, but she’s still triumphing.
(From American Songwriter #2/34)
