More about: Julien Baker

It’s no surprise that after her explosion in popularity over the last few years (due in part to a collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus as boygenius) that Julien Baker would need a break. Luckily, it’s been a very fruitful break indeed: with new album Little Oblivions, out this week (26 February) Baker hits brand new heights.

Opening track ‘Hardline’ is like a shot of morphine to the arm: its slow build to complete euphoria has to be heard to be believed. It also serves as the perfect opener for what is an album of relatively new territory for Baker, following vaguely in the footsteps of boygenius - but more on them later. Every instrument in ‘Hardline’s mix is given time to shine and plays its part like a carefully arranged concerto. 

Single ‘Faith Healer’ is a tender taste of the sweetness of Baker’s songwriting, while ‘Ringside’ - with its reverb-soaked drums - is a beautifully rough tale of self-loathing. It's a real highlight, with Baker’s vocal delivery sinking its claws deep into the soul to carefully bring a tear to a dry eye. Baker’s boygenius bandmates provide backing vocals on the subtly heart wrenching ‘Favor’ providing a backdrop to Baker’s wonderfully affecting lyrics. 

Little Oblivions is an album that drips with Baker’s brutal honesty: she doesn't shy away from singing about her own mental health problems with lines such as “what right had you not to let me die?”, “someone’s got my head in the slums and everything I do makes it worse”, and “I won’t bother telling you I’m sorry for something I’m gonna do again” plucking away at the chest with every single listen. This album is an absolute triumph of storytelling and self-reflection which is made for small rooms to flood with tears upon hearing it. 

Little Oblivions arrives 26 February via Matador Records.

More about: Julien Baker