Julien Baker - Sprained Ankle

I've waxed lyrical to various people a lot since Sprained Ankle came out, and the fact I still have something to say about this record says a lot about it. But I still remember where I was the first time I heard these songs and how raw and intense it all felt. I listened to this album endlessly, because it was something that came into my life at the exact right moment. I can’t say that I’ve played it too much in the last year or two, as hearing those songs just brings all those feelings right back to the surface, but I love knowing that it’s there for me when I need it. The songs are so raw and have more of a demo feel to them and that adds a great deal of charm to them. The opening line of "Wish I could write songs about anything other than death" hits you in the face and makes you feel Julien's vulnerability. I saw her live on the "Turn Out The Lights" tour and you could hear a pin drop throughout her set but I always get chills remembering the crowd quietly singing along especially to "Whenever I'm alone with you, can't talk. Well, isn't this weather nice? Sure you're okay?" It felt like at the moment the whole room were singing long in agreement and saying "yeah, I've been there". Always comforting to know others have too isn't it?

On the back of this album she opened tours for the likes of Death Cab For Cutie and Belle & Sebastian, having her songs covered by Brand New and Dashboard Confessional, and being tagged in an untold number of tweets about how her music makes people cry. 

My only complaint is that the song always feels too short. Check her two albums out if you haven't already.