Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (February 26, 2021; Matador) Album • Page 46

Goodness, this record is something special. "Relative Fiction" is among my favorites on first listen - reminds me a lot of the first time hearing "Sour Breath" and just being floored.

 

Particularly, I really noticed how Memphis/Nashville inspired the guitars are on this record - huge highlight

 

The drums on Bloodshot

 

This is pretty spectacular. Julien with a full band behind her hits so hard.

 

This is her best record

 

how do you create something like this at 25

 

Its good.

 

interesting that bloodshot was the original opener. I can definitely see that working well. would be a more representative opener, a bit more in line with the older stuff. what a great song

 

she's right! ringside should've been the first single!

 

i remember getting goosebumps the first time I heard Sour Breath.

 

I really need Apple Music to update with lyrics for all the songs so I can make some subtweet posts to Instagram.

 

I’m not in love with the production of the album but this is hitting at a moment where my anxieties and confidence are at their lowest so I’m a complete mess and into this record.

 

I didn't really notice any massive vocal spotlights like the end of the title track on TOTL, which blew me away when I first heard it. I feel like the build is more in the instruments this time and that's something I'm not used to when it comes to JB.

Definitely need to spin this with on better headphones while not in the car for seven hours lol

 

Her vocals are definitely more subdued overall, but I think it's a really effective approach.

 

vocal melodies on repeat remind me a lot of hurt less

 

Random aside - Hurt Less always feels like Christmas time to me, for some reason

 

I can actually get this weirdly enough lol

 

Initial impression:

Definitely the best of her albums, but some of it sounds a little samey on first listen. The Pitchfork numerical ranking seems about right. I see The National comparisons, at least on some songs.

This does seem like a grower for sure.

 

I had my first listen during my lunch break in the early spring sunshine here in the UK. It was brilliant. I had only listened to the first single and it was a nice experience to digest this all at once.

TOTL is now one of my favourite albums ever so I decided to try and keep my expectations down.

This didn’t disappoint - perhaps not as immediate but I am loving the overall vibe. Looking forward to dig in to the lyrics a bit more with repeated listens.

 

Digging into the lyrics really made it all hit home for me.

 

I feel like Julien is consistently a few tweaks away from making a great record. I don't know; this isn't blowing me away, and Sprained Ankle/TOTL didn't either. She's like, SO close to nailing it but keeps slightly missing the mark.

I think it's the way her albums blend together - a lot of this album runs together and feels very samey and the production is real iffy. Ziptie is kind of a let down for a closer after coming off of TOTL's incredible closer.

 

I actually think this is way less samey than the others lol

 

It is, but it's still too samey for me :/

I feel like a combination of the best parts of this and TOTL would be perfect.

 

My thoughts exactly

 

Relative Fiction

Easily my favourite of her albums so far.