Bright Future

Recorded
Released

There’s that old tired trope about “[City] Being Another Character” in a film. The idea that the setting of the thing is so prominent, so baked into the bones into what you’re experiencing that it becomes as important as the action on screen. The same could be said for tape hiss. The pillow of hiss becomes another level of constant comfort on Big Thief singer Adrianne Lenker’s latest solo album Bright Future. It’s an album of more pillowy sounds, an exploration of softness and sadness that, like the majority of her output, feels raw and straight to the point without ever crossing over into cloying over-sentimentality. Highlights include the tone poem “Real House,” all dark piano and light, light, ever so light touches of violin. The John Prine-y “Fool” and “No Machine” — the latter festooned with babbling background vocalization — are just a small taste of a collection of heartbreaking songs that soar past the small pockets they emerge from.

Amelia Riggs

Suggestions
Zach Bryan cover

Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan
One Year cover

One Year

Colin Blunstone
Ivy Tripp cover

Ivy Tripp

Waxahatchee
Spíra cover

Spíra

Ólöf Arnalds
Blue Reminder cover

Blue Reminder

Hand Habits
Rain Dogs cover

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits
Mr. M cover

Mr. M

Lambchop
Wilds cover

Wilds

Andy Shauf