Sharon Van Etten
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Indie folk, folk/rock
Status:
Most recent release, "Not Myself" (single, 2016)See also:
Sharon Van Etten's siteComparisons:
Rachel Taylor Brown, Marissa Nadler. Last.fm lists Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett, and Torres, among others.Covers/own material:
OwnGeneral comments:
Indie folk/rock singer-songwriter with dream pop influences, especially in her vocal delivery and on her early albums. (JoAnn Whetsell)Recommended first album:
Epic or Are We ThereRecordings:
- Because I Was in Love (2009)
- Epic (2010)
- Tramp (2012)
- Are We There (2014)
- Spotify Sessions (live, 2014)
- I Don't Want to Let You Down (EP, 2015)
- Not Myself (single, 2016)
Epic
Release info:
2010—Ba Da Bing!Availability:
WideEcto priority:
Highly recommendedComments:
This is the only thing I've ever heard by her (she has 2 previous albums) and I'm really enchanted by it. It's a bit folky, but several songs have more of a beat that almost places her more on the beautiful-but-fierce side of the ecto spectrum. My favorite song on the EP is "Peace Signs." This is a pretty obscure reference, but I'd compare her to Rachel Taylor Brown. (trow@interbridge.com)Folky, dreamy, a bit rocking in places, it's no wonder that this EP (7 tracks, 33 minutes) garnered national attention. It's really that good, and not quite like most stuff out there. The closest thing I can think of is Marissa Nadler crossed with Lucinda Williams, which is a really interesting combination. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Tramp
Release info:
2012—Jagjaguwar—6 56605 22012 3Availability:
WideEcto priority:
Highly recommendedGroup members:
Sharon Van Etten—vocals, guitar, harmonium, ukulele, organGuest artists:
Aaron Brooking Dessner—guitars, bass, keys, drums, slide guitar, electric guitar, drum machine, piano, shakers, guitar feedback, glockenspiel, percussion
Matt Barrick—drums
Bryce Dessner—ebo guitar, bowed guitar
Thomas Bartlett—keys (3, 12), Rhodes (6), piano (8, 10)
Jenn Wasner—vocals (3, 6)
Julianna Barwick—vocals (4, 11)
Rob Moose—violin (5, 8, 12), mandolin (5), orchestration (5), viola (8)
Logan Coale—double bass
Doug Keith—bass (6), guitar (7)
Bryan Devendorf—drums (7, 8, 10)
Benjamin Lanz—trombone (7, 11)
Zach Condon—vocals (8, 9)
Clarice Jensen—cello (8, 12)
Ben Lord—drums (11)Produced by:
Aaron Brooking DessnerComments:
Tramp builds on Epic, still dreamy but with more indie rock. If you like the single "Serpents" you should like the album. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Are We There
Release info:
2014—JagjaguwarAvailability:
WideEcto priority:
Highly recommendedComments:
This is an excellent album, a huge step forward from Tramp, which is a great album in its own right. But Are We There is solid throughout, and cohesive as an album with no bad or even mediocre tracks. It also feels stronger (not as in better but as in the sound being more forceful), more indie rock with the folk and dream pop still there as influences. "Your Love Is Killing Me" is surely one of the standout songs of her career, but all the tracks are of such high quality it's hard to pick favorites. Very highly recommended. (JoAnn Whetsell)A treasured release. One of the best albums of the year. (christina_skov@hotmail.com)
I Don't Want to Let You Down
Release info:
2015—JagjaguwarAvailability:
WideEcto priority:
Highly recommendedComments:
Another excellent release, brighter in sound than Are We There. (JoAnn Whetsell)One of the best EPs of the year. (mixplusik@gmail.com)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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