With her 09 debut album Because I Was in Love, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten immediately captivated audiences with her rich vocals and acoustic guitar, and now she is back with her sophomore album Epic. The opening track “Crime” bridges the two albums – it’s a familiar, strummed, acoustic lament about love gone awry; the only acoustic song on the album. From the second track on, Van Etten is backed by a full band, which expands the melancholy mood and elevates Van Etten’s vocals to a new level. The multipart harmonies, like those on “Love More,” appear throughout the album, conveying a sense of hope; that beauty can come out of the worst of circumstances. Van Etten, who is one of my favorite contemporary songwriters, is extraordinary solo, but accompanied by a band, her music really shines. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Sam Amidon, Cat Power, Sarah Jaffe, Lower Dens, Nina Nastasia, J. Tillman, Tiny Vipers