I was a big fan of last year's Inbred EP, and especially its singles ("Crush" and "Michelle Pfeiffer"). The pre-release singles from her upcoming debut (out 5/12) are also really good. I love her sound and vibe, the combination of dream-pop reverb and anthemic instincts.
She has quite the backstory too (short version, she's a trans PK from backwoods Florida who grew up singing in church), and a dedicated troupe of online disciples, which makes her interesting but the music is the main selling point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKnFBRMzRas
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 2 May 2022 15:08 (two years ago) link
Here's "Crush" for anyone who missed it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu-t3tqDyAY
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 2 May 2022 15:09 (two years ago) link
so glad you made the thread, tipsy -- EC has been Major for me since discovering the EP last year.
here's another video for a track off the EP called "God's Country" (which is my favorite of hers):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV3V_4NcUu8
and here are a couple more singles off the upcoming full-length which is called <i>Preacher's Daughter</i>: the closing track "Strangers" and "Gibson Girl":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggJArb5Tg1shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRQOlWKcxYs
― winters (josh), Monday, 2 May 2022 22:10 (two years ago) link
Yes, a discovery last year for me as well and agreed on all these points -- just wish the newer work was available on Bandcamp. "Michelle Pfeiffer" kinda melted my mind when I first heard it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geclsIbWqoA
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 May 2022 22:32 (two years ago) link
"michelle pfeiffer" is on another level from the rest of what i've heard from her, but she's definitely someone to keep an eye on.
― in places all over the world, real stuff be happening (voodoo chili), Monday, 2 May 2022 22:47 (two years ago) link
I love "Michelle Pfeiffer," tho I could do without the Lil Aaron verse.
Bought tickets to see her in July, I'm betting she puts on a good show.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 2 May 2022 22:50 (two years ago) link
I was about to either start this thread or revive another vaguely appropriate one. I feel like she's getting better? Like, "Michelle Pfeiffer" and "Crush" are great, but the run this year - the "Everytime" cover, "Gibson Girl", "Strangers" and now "American Teenager" - is just like bam bam bam bam. Not necessarily stronger material per se, but it feels more confident, more connected to its own value, more embodied with a sense of the artist's distinct personality. Relatedly, I like that she is sharpening her commercial instincts, especially with "American Dream" which from the title on down is very calculated but in a way that totally works for me (the Journey-esque guitar solo is A+). Though I think "Strangers" is perhaps the best of them: I love how it's unclear whether the overtones of violence are metaphorical or literal - is she singing about a past obsessive relationship she has moved on from, or is she a ghost haunting the lover who murdered her?
― Tim F, Tuesday, 3 May 2022 13:08 (two years ago) link
lol *"American Teenager"
― Tim F, Tuesday, 3 May 2022 13:10 (two years ago) link
She deserves her own thread, of course, and assuming all trans rockers sound the same/are the same is dumb and limiting, but Mel Stone, who I've been following since an appearance on a podcast to talk about Velvet Goldmine some years back, is also a choice listen, and in ways there is a connection to Cain's work because they both find differing/distinct ways to make the hoary burnout dullness of whatever classic rock as such was sound better again. One of my favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8P1DJCG58c
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 May 2022 15:58 (two years ago) link
Tour dates:
07/14/22 — Bloomington, IN — The Bishop
07/15/22 — Chicago, IL — Pitchfork Festival
07/18/22 — Detroit, MI — El Club
07/19/22 — Toronto, ON — Horseshoe
07/20/22 — Montreal, QC — Le Ritz PDB
07/22/22 — Boston, MA — Brighton Music Hall
07/23/22 — Philadelphia, PA — Johnny Brendas
07/24/22 — Washington, DC — Union Stage
07/27/22 — Richmond, VA — Richmond Music Hall
07/28/22 — Asheville, NC — The Grey Eagle
07/30/22 — Gainesville, FL — High Dive
07/31/22 — Tallahassee, FL — 926 Bar
08/5/22 — Denver, CO — Vortex Fest
08/20/22 — Seattle, WA — Neumos
08/21/22 — Vancouver, BC — Wise Hall
08/22/22 — Portland, OR — Mississippi Studios
08/2522 — San Francisco — The Independent
08/27/22 — Los Angeles, CA — This Ain’t No Picnic
08/28/22 — San Diego, CA — Humphrey’s (Here & There)
08/30/22 — Phoenix, AZ — Valley Bar
09/1/22 — Austin, TX — ACL Live @ Moody Theatre (Here & There)
09/2/22 — Dallas, TX — Ruins
09/6/22 — Atlanta, GA — The Earl
09/7/22 — Nashville, TN — Basement East
09/9/22 — NYC — Bowery Ballroom
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 May 2022 16:57 (one year ago) link
NYT profile https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/11/arts/music/ethel-cain-preachers-daughter.html
At the same time, Cain has no manager and no interest in forcing a hit on TikTok or Spotify. The dreamy, longing songs on “Preacher’s Daughter” — largely written, recorded and produced alone in her bedroom — may be soaring in sound and intention, but they are deliberately slow, hazy and dense, often stretching past the six-minute mark before exploding into an out-of-fashion guitar solo or spooky instrumental passage.Cain also insists on living in the middle of nowhere, the better to drive her truck around barefoot and hang out in empty fields and graveyards or under dilapidated bridges. Before rural Alabama, she rented an abandoned church in a random Indiana town of fewer than 2,000 people.In her slight Southern lilt, Cain expressed nothing but shellshocked disdain for cities like New York and Los Angeles, where most in her enviable position end up.
Cain also insists on living in the middle of nowhere, the better to drive her truck around barefoot and hang out in empty fields and graveyards or under dilapidated bridges. Before rural Alabama, she rented an abandoned church in a random Indiana town of fewer than 2,000 people.
In her slight Southern lilt, Cain expressed nothing but shellshocked disdain for cities like New York and Los Angeles, where most in her enviable position end up.
― Indexed, Wednesday, 11 May 2022 15:38 (one year ago) link
Disappointed to learn she's signed to Dr. Luke's company tbh
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 11 May 2022 15:50 (one year ago) link
Yeah that's not great.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 11 May 2022 15:52 (one year ago) link
Overall good article though.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 11 May 2022 15:59 (one year ago) link
I'm on my 2nd time thru the album, I like it. Some songs I love, some that are more about vibe than tune, but overall the ambition of the thing is pretty impressive. Several songs past 7 minutes, one past 9, less of a pop sensibility than last year's singles but a real sense of almost cinematic scope. It sounds gorgeous, of course.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 13 May 2022 01:57 (one year ago) link
Great guitar playing and production too. There are sections that sound like Crazy Horse, others that sound like metal.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 13 May 2022 01:59 (one year ago) link
London tickets went on sale today and we’re gone immediately but she’s added an extra date for December 7th.
― Scampo di tutti i Scampi (ShariVari), Friday, 22 July 2022 11:58 (one year ago) link
*were
― Scampo di tutti i Scampi (ShariVari), Friday, 22 July 2022 11:59 (one year ago) link
Seeing her next week, psyched.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 22 July 2022 12:38 (one year ago) link
saw her earlier this week, great show though her voice live is a bit thinner than i expected from the record but still yeah, a fun time (considering her whole thing)
― Murgatroid, Friday, 22 July 2022 15:01 (one year ago) link
Show tonight was great, she sounded terrific and the rapport with the crowd was warm and friendly. She didn't do "Gibson Girl" or "Michelle Pfeiffer," which surprised me, but it was a strong set. And she has serious star power and presence.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 29 July 2022 02:59 (one year ago) link
Also the crowd (this was Asheville) was a nice slice of queer-friendly Appalachia. Totally heartwarming to see a high-school age trans girl there in a full bridal gown, accompanied by her frumpy middle-aged parents.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 29 July 2022 12:51 (one year ago) link
thoroughfare is one of my fav songs this yearhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XocCIxoeilo
― im a beacon of light (Spottie), Friday, 2 December 2022 17:56 (one year ago) link
finally listened to this and surprised by how much it's taylor swift with a ton of reverb (not that that's a bad thing)
but how on earth did she get that voice! what the hell
― ufo, Sunday, 4 December 2022 09:56 (one year ago) link
She sounded great love too fwiw. Obviously her voice on the album benefits from tons of reverb, but it is no small instrument.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 4 December 2022 17:39 (one year ago) link
Live, not love