https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/18/julien-baker-turn-out-the-lights-sprained-ankle-interview
I just really need this to be streaming somewhere so I can properly cry along to the new songs at the gig next week
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Thursday, 19 October 2017 14:01 (six years ago) link
We speak a few days after Baker opened for one of her longtime heroes, Paramoresurprised at this connection - slightly off topic, where do I start if I want to get to know Paramore?
― niels, Thursday, 19 October 2017 15:55 (six years ago) link
i like the self-titled a lot
― Mordy, Thursday, 19 October 2017 16:00 (six years ago) link
s/t or brand new eyes
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Thursday, 19 October 2017 16:05 (six years ago) link
I used to get Paramore vibes from her music. Different volume levels, obviously, but there's a similar emotional/blunt candor to their songwriting
Seconding s/t; that one is their masterpiece. Riot! is one of my favorite alt-rock albums of the '00s, though, and probably their most influential, even if it's the one most people feel like they've outgrown
― Evan R, Thursday, 19 October 2017 16:37 (six years ago) link
the new one is my fave but it's definitely an outlier sonically. S/T is probably the correct answer
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Thursday, 19 October 2017 16:43 (six years ago) link
thanks, will listen!
― niels, Thursday, 19 October 2017 21:26 (six years ago) link
She walked on right after "Rose-Colored Boy," lol
It was a v good show but not quite as entrancing as the last one, probably cause the venue was 4x bigger and people were filming and singing along this time
― Simon H., Wednesday, 25 October 2017 04:59 (six years ago) link
sounds p cool!
― niels, Wednesday, 25 October 2017 05:59 (six years ago) link
I also picked up the new album at the show and it's very good but tbh I'm just not sure about her move to the piano. She's an incredible guitarist but a fairly plain pianist and it turns the piano-based songs into blunter, less expressive things.
― Simon H., Wednesday, 25 October 2017 12:14 (six years ago) link
1:49 in Shadowboxing - shivers
― Mordy, Thursday, 26 October 2017 19:09 (six years ago) link
i'm listening to this right now. if i can find someone to go w/ me i'm gonna see her sunday.
― Mordy, Thursday, 26 October 2017 19:10 (six years ago) link
The new one's really good. "Sour Breath" is the one I keep repeating whenever it comes on.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 27 October 2017 16:39 (six years ago) link
She's a terrific lyricist, too -- the territory she covers could veer into maudlin or self-indulgent really easily, but her metaphors are vivid and honest.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 27 October 2017 16:41 (six years ago) link
and relatable, I think ... she sings about universal things in a way that feels not just personal, but tangible
― alpine static, Friday, 27 October 2017 17:14 (six years ago) link
I think my *slight* disappointment with the album stems from how much I loved the "Funeral Pyre"/"Distant Solar Systems" single. The album feels a bit broader and safer by comparison
― Simon H., Friday, 27 October 2017 17:58 (six years ago) link
Yeah, that single is very intimate. Reminds me of Elliot Smith's earlier stuff. But I also like the sweep of the new one, it's kind of like bedroom stadium-rock.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 27 October 2017 18:17 (six years ago) link
hurt less, my god
she is so powerful
― niels, Sunday, 29 October 2017 09:24 (six years ago) link
I don't get the hype, and i tried. I thhink it might be the dramatic singing style
― nostormo, Sunday, 29 October 2017 20:36 (six years ago) link
"Sour Breath" is still my fav, but man that closer.
― Evan R, Monday, 30 October 2017 19:21 (six years ago) link
this album is fine. idk why i am particularly unable to connect with it. i was sorta hoping the expanded arrangements would include drums
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Wednesday, 1 November 2017 16:14 (six years ago) link
"hurt less" is v good
Tried listening to this album today. It sounds like it was commissioned by a music supervisor at Hulu. Maybe the most faceless thing I've heard all year. Genuinely baffled by the appeal of stuff like this - or at least baffled how people can tell this sad-girl-with-guitar from the six dozen others who sound exactly like her who also put out albums this month.
― grawlix (unperson), Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:26 (six years ago) link
ah
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:32 (six years ago) link
imo she has a very distinctive sound but if you describe female singer-songwriters as "sad-girl-with-guitar" it could be this isn't a genre that you're really giving a fair chance
― Mordy, Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:34 (six years ago) link
yeah i think it's pretty apparent why she sticks out—the austerity of her arrangements, her songwriting approach sort of finding the middle between emo and, like, songs: ohia
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:37 (six years ago) link
I think you hit on why I'm a bit lukewarm on the record, brad. The expanded arrangements work to make the songs more homogenous and less impactful than the debut. it's easy to forget she's still very early in her career and figuring out what works.
― Simon H., Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:40 (six years ago) link
lol thank you for deriving that extremely good point from my not particularly good post. yeah i think that's about right
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:40 (six years ago) link
xp I don't know any other artists writing the way she does and she has a very distinctive vocal and sound
her personality and story are also interesting and probably a part of the package
I believe "Hurt Less" is the first song of 2017 to make me cry
― niels, Wednesday, 1 November 2017 17:42 (six years ago) link
Genuinely baffled by the appeal of stuff like this - or at least baffled how people can tell this sad-girl-with-guitar from the six dozen others who sound exactly like her who also put out albums this month.
woof
― Evan R, Wednesday, 1 November 2017 18:24 (six years ago) link
Anyway, this record was never going to hit like the debut did but it pretty clearly succeeds in what it sets out to do. I think to the extent that a few tracks fall flat for me (at least right now) it's just because the songwriting isn't as impeccable as it was on the debut. But there are still like five or six tracks on this thing that are right on par with Sprained Ankle, and that's pretty remarkable.
Elliott Smith comparisons really hold. It's the difference between Roman Candle and XO.
― Evan R, Wednesday, 1 November 2017 18:29 (six years ago) link
― grawlix (unperson), Wednesday, November 1, 2017 1:26 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
this is a horseshit opinion, not that i would expect much else
― call all destroyer, Friday, 3 November 2017 02:49 (six years ago) link
the six dozen others who sound exactly like her who also put out albums this month
name names! looks like i have some catch up listening to do.
― monotony, Friday, 3 November 2017 05:27 (six years ago) link
yeah i'm doing a big EOY catch-up and would also love to know who these six dozen sad girls with guitars are
― joshywinty (josh), Friday, 3 November 2017 05:35 (six years ago) link
so i can make time in my personal schedule for all of them
― joshywinty (josh), Friday, 3 November 2017 05:36 (six years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/features/song-by-song/julien-baker-delves-into-the-trauma-and-triumph-behind-every-song-on-her-new-album/
― ArchCarrier, Friday, 3 November 2017 09:18 (six years ago) link
I honestly found reading that to be more emotionally bracing than listening to the album :(
for people who like JB I would recommend the most recent albums by Emma Ruth Rundle and Sarah Mary Chadwick
― Simon H., Friday, 3 November 2017 09:28 (six years ago) link
I connected hard to a couple of the songs on her first album, but my first impression of this new album is actually that on the whole I like it better than the first. Beautiful melodies, lyrics still raw in the best ways.
― abcfsk, Friday, 3 November 2017 09:32 (six years ago) link
great interview, this woman is truly brilliant
and infinitely more knowledgeable than I was at 22
― niels, Friday, 3 November 2017 10:20 (six years ago) link
Saw her last night, she was terrific. Her voice is really something you have to hear live to fully appreciate, how huge it is and how skillful and subtle she's gotten at deploying it. Amazing clarity of tone in both her singing and playing, it was really radiant.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 30 November 2017 17:29 (six years ago) link
This album has not lost its lustre for me. "Shadowboxing" is just crushing
― Number None, Wednesday, 10 January 2018 18:19 (six years ago) link
oh fuck I missed that there was a new album, it is also amazing
― akm, Monday, 15 January 2018 02:49 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdOZxrp7t7s
― etc, Wednesday, 18 April 2018 04:38 (five years ago) link
I desperately need a covers record - at least an EP!
― Simon H., Wednesday, 18 April 2018 12:19 (five years ago) link
Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers are.....boygenius
https://www.stereogum.com/2009654/phoebe-bridgers-julien-baker-lucy-dacus-tease-collab/news/
― wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Friday, 10 August 2018 18:14 (five years ago) link
oh fuck
― dj screwed (Ross), Friday, 10 August 2018 18:14 (five years ago) link
EXCUSE ME
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 10 August 2018 18:33 (five years ago) link
ready for the sadpocalypse
― wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Friday, 10 August 2018 18:35 (five years ago) link
Interested in what she sounds like as a band member but I also need her to be lead as I’m not as much into the other two.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 10 August 2018 18:59 (five years ago) link
Phoebe tho
― grandaddy of all liars (Ross), Friday, 10 August 2018 21:05 (five years ago) link