Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (February 26, 2021; Matador) Album • Page 51

I could honestly see the Star Killers doing a tour or even new album at some point down the road

 

I know this is a very superficial way of approaching music but... honestly while I've always appreciated Julien's songwriting, the arrangements being so sparse usually made her music the type of stuff I'd have to be in a very specific mood to appreciate. Kind of like Elliott Smith and some others... something I enjoyed sometimes when in the right mood but didn't return to often.

All of this is to say... I just listened to this album and holy shit, it's perfect for a listener like me. I adore all the layers of instrumentation and sound even on the more mellow tracks, and songs like "Hardline" absolutely floored me. It's such a great balance of the raw vulnerability of her earlier work with a more expansive sonic template. Can already tell I'll be going back to this a ton.

 

That first verse of "Heatwave" is so phenomenal. Hadn't thought until just now how the literal tragedy could also double as a metaphor for mental illness. Gives that last line in the verse extra poignancy.

I had the shuddering thought
"This was gonna make me late for work"

 

Repeat, and Highlight Reel are my early favorites

 

When I am not listening to this album I am thinking about this album

 

coming in with some weird comparisons but repeat reminds me of some of the lusher stuff on clarity if it was more piano based, and ringside reminds me of a beefier take on happy to be here

 

I’ve listened to this a couple times but nothing has stood out which is disappointing. I think I need to sit down with a good pair of headphones and just listen.

 

Bloodshot might be my SOTY thus far honestly

wish it didn't end on a goddamn fadeout tho

 

I watched the performances on TV and they literally only showed two of them and cut her off during the second performance to move on to the next show but at least they are all on YouTube in full

 

These single performances especially make me wish she’d gone with pretty much any other songs. Would much rather see bloodshot, or ringside, or repeat, or highlight reel, over faith healer or even heatwave for these

 

Anyone else’s Crying Wolf track get stuck on loop?

This is on the Black and Yellow Splatter variant.

 

This is the best crossover

Now tour together (post-COVID)

 

no but sounds like a good problem to have tbh

 

"Favor" is becoming one of my favorites on here

 

I’d say Favor is pretty firmly my least favorite at this point but I think it’s placed very effectively in the track list

 

I think Faith Healer is my least favourite thing on here - it's a good song but is utterly overshadowed by the songs either side of it.

 

Faith Healer grew on me a ton. It feels very much like classic Julien with a full band where a lot of the other songs on the record feel like a brand new take on her sound.

 

faith healer rules and the end is some of my favorite sounds on the record

 

I love Faith Healer

 

yea, I also overplayed the shit out of it for the last few months so now I just wanna skip

 

Those Saturday Sessions sound incredible. I can't wait for the livestream later this month.

 

I can’t wait until shows come back because seeing these songs live is going to rule