Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (February 26, 2021; Matador) Album • Page 43

yeah idk this was a really flawless listen. I can't believe I'm saying it but this might be better than sprained ankle. gonna probably listen to it again rn and see if I'm overreacting or not

 

Yeah I had the same thought, haha. I thought this thread would be way more active rn.

I thought for sure I'd have to go to bed immediately after listening but I'm going in again.

 

funny, cause she definitely wasn't until punisher came out

 

Hardline might be the best song she has

 

Hardline is the GOAT.

 

its the best song anyone has

 

Kinda get the feeling this records gonna end up being divisive, I think her lyrics really make the songs feel intimate, but I remember when TOTL came out people already felt like it was too polished compared to Sprained Ankle. Which I can understand but... I think I love whatever she does.

 

On the other hand, I think a lot of people who couldn’t get into her before could be really into this one.

 

this is leagues ahead of totl imo

 

Just finished my first listen. Really beautiful album.

 

Tbh, Julien could count in sequential order for 30 minutes and I’d probably be enthralled.

 

Okay I really like Heatwave this time around. That final lyric is devastating.

 

Faith Healer feels like the weakest link to me. How this was picked as the first single is beyond me.

 

I agree with that but I'm such a simp that I'd still give it like 8/10 lol

 

Heatwave felt so weird after Hardline. I'm not used to Hardline ending and hearing anything but Hardline starting again.

 

I dig Faith Healer

 

yeah the single choices for this were baffling haha. imo set this up to be a much different album

 

Tokyo really was the perfect precursor for this album, in hindsight

 

I was going to say that I think I am more of a casual fan of hers than most people here, but I don't think that is really true per se - it is more echoing this sentiment expressed here:

I think she is absolutely phenomenal, but I don't find myself reaching for her past albums as often as I would think I would with someone that I hold in such high esteem and whose work I enjoy. I think it comes down to how devastating her music can be. It hits me like a ton of fucking bricks, and especially this past year, that isn't the type of music I've been gravitating towards all that much. Sometimes, it is the only fucking thing, but a lot of times I am actively looking for something mellow or relaxing these days. With this album, even though some of the lyrics are fucking BRUTAL, the full band thing and the music itself is just so great that I can absolutely see myself playing this a lot.

Honestly, the music and the musicianship and the production here are all so great that I could see hypothetically listening to this a lot even if it was fully instrumental and had no lyrics. I am not saying that is a great idea though because the lyrics here are as incredible as always and that would be missing out on a whole amazing aspect of her music.

I know it is early, but this album is really fucking great. I only listened to the singles a little bit and made a conscious effort to not overplay them even a little bit - and I see no dip in quality between the singles and the rest of the album, and this thing flows great if you ask me.

 

Ringside is like if TOTL (the song) was put on steroids

 

Yeah I like Favor way more this time

 

honestly it should be considered a crime that the end of "Bloodshot" doesn't go for 6 more minutes imo

 

I feel like ringside is the obvious lead single choice here

 

100%