This majestic LP of superb musical maturity.by the Canadian singer-songwriter Tamara Lindeman has an undercurrent climate change theme, with deft piano, drums, strings, sax, guitar and a sound sometimes reminiscent of mid-80s Talk Talk, which is high praise indeed. The single, Atlantic (“ should get all this dying off of my mind/I should know better than to read the headlines”) was previously highlighted on our New Songs section, and Lindeman’s style traverses folk, jazz and pop and more into something that very much feels like a finished product, with lush, but unshowy production and a perfect example of the ‘less is more’ approach, letting each instrument do its work alongside her own low-key voice, that moves from an understated hush to a bright falsetto. Opening track Robber disarms the force of capitalism as if it were a bad boyfriend. The wonderful Parking Lot uses a similar, more more moving approach, being described as “a love song to a bird” in which we hear the ominous line: “Is it alright if I don’t want to sing tonight?”. Personal and universal heartbreak is seamlessly entwined. Other standouts include Tried To Tell You and Heart, but the album is so strong and tender throughout, it’s uniformly excellent from start to finish. Out on Fat Possum Records.
Feel free to also check out our favourite albums of 2020 here:
Fiona Apple to Lianne La Havas to Yves Tumor: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 1
Agnes Obel to Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers to Sault: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 2
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: