Stranger In The Alps

Julien Baker's 2017 record earned a lot of well-deserved praise, especially since her debut album flew comparatively under the radar. One can only hope that it doesn't take a second record for Phoebe Bridgers to get the recognition she deserves. Stranger in the Alps is among 2017's most exquisite releases. It is equal parts heart-warming and heart-wrenching, driven by a remarkable, vulnerable performance by the up-and-coming artist. Bridgers has been touted frequently by Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and has even been known to cover him during her live shows, and this relationship makes a great deal of sense. Bridgers has Oberst's lyrical genius, weaving seamlessly between the hyper-personal and the resoundingly universal. She can strike you with the specificity of a diary entry ("Singing 'Ace of Spades' when Lemmy died, but nothing's changed. LA's all right.") or make you feel less alone with pause-giving insight ("Can the killer in me tame the fire in you? Is there nothing left to do for us?"). While her live shows are often defined by sparseness and buoyed exclusively by her unbelievable voice and minimalistic guitar-playing, the arrangements on Stranger in the Alps maintain her folk ethos but add an otherworldliness to her sound with everything from haunting echoes to subtle drum pulsing. And although there is a noticeable difference between her recorded sound and her live sound, none of this compromises the bottom line: every song on this record has the weight of a single. Each track has an unforgettable hook, a gorgeous vocal performance, and mesmerizing lyrics. She has much of the natural songwriting ability Conor Oberst has had since the beginning, and her debut album feels, in many ways, like a slightly more accessible I'm Wide Awake It's Morning or Fevers and Mirrors. Phoebe Bridgers has everything she needs to take off, and while there has been some critical acclaim for this, it deserves to be in the conversation of 2017's best. If you love Julien Baker, Bright Eyes, Waxahatchee, and other similar acts, this will likely become one of your very favorite releases not just of the year, but of all time.

Arrived on time and in good condition. Nice album

Phoebe Bridgers proves she is the real deal with her debut album. Phoebe offers a collection of songs with strong, simple lyrics, beautiful vocals, and very layered production. Her honesty is what strikes me the most. She writes about dating a man who was in a band when she was born, singing for the funeral of someone a year older than her, a candid conversation with an old friend, and many other vulnerable situations. I'm very excited to see how Phoebe will continue to grow. If you get a chance to see her live I highly recommend it. My only real gripe with the album is that I wish "Georgia" had retained its upbeat, acoustic quality. The slow, effect ridden arrangement works but I think the original tempo would have made the album flow even better. I would also like to echo another comment and say that my CD did not contain Track 11, although its not a big deal as it is only a 30 second outro. Overall I love the album and recommend it to anyone who enjoys good songwriting!

Thank you! This vinyl record came VERY protective. Sounds great with no skipping or static. Excited to have this in my collection.

Phoebe Bridgers was the best part of the Sept 14 Conor Oberst concert I went to. She is amazing live and had there been albums to purchase at the concert, I would have gotten one right then! She has a lovely voice, very easy to listen to. I actually had a horrible migraine at the concert and her singing was very soothing. So far I've got all these songs stuck in my head! Beautifully written and performed, I've had it on repeat since I got it a few days ago. I am a little confused because the case says that there are 11 songs but the cd only has 10 tracks. Also the lyrics from You Missed My Heart are not in the album book, which makes me sad. I LOVE having the lyrics so I can learn the songs more quickly than trying to parse out things. One thing I REALLY love is that I can sing right along with her songs! I don't have to sing a different octave or change between octaves like I do with a lot of music when I'm singing. Her voice is in just the right range for me and that makes me really happy! I look forward to hearing and purchasing more of her music.

Fantastic album. Mostly upbeat, electric guitar “folk” music (singer-songwriter/storyteller), with clever lyrics and solid performance. If female singers, emotional lyrics, or the folk genre aren’t your interests then don’t bother - too many complainers whining that this album isn’t something it’s not claiming to be. But it’s an impressive feat for any artist, much less an initial release!

Stranger in the Alps is a record that I fell in love with slowly, but then all at once. Phoebe's butter-like soft vocals will put you in a trance and you'll want to listen to it constantly. She is a master at lyrics along with her emotional acoustic folk vibe. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because there is some static to the black vinyl. Don't waste your time in not buying this record. It is truly a masterpiece.

This is a fantastic album from the best, brightest and most creative singer-songwriter I've heard in years. Her style is impossible to pigeonhole, her lyrics are far more mature and complex than what you would expect from someone so young, and her musicianship is top-notch. I hope she has a long and successful career, because if this debut album is any indication, she will have a lot of great music to offer us in the years to come. Do yourself a favor and buy this CD.

Perfect

インディーロック×儚げな女性のウィスパーボイスとあれば抗えるはずもなくポチりました 全体的に落ち着いたトーンのアルバムですが大きめのボリュームで聞くとどっぷりと浸れます

This was my very very favorite album of 2017. Every week I give it another spin and it feels fresh again -- largely because these songs are peaking in my enjoyment at various points. This last week was the first time I properly listened to the lyrics of the final track, and I was realized how engaging her story was considering it is a rather long song, but sure gets me thinking. Phoebe is an excellent, emotional story teller that sidesteps both the tired modern folk cliches and the indulgences of high prose. It will be very difficult to follow up this album, I think, but last-minute outputs from her through other projects is already promising.

If you have ears and a soul, then this record is definitely one for your collection. Beautiful, bittersweet, at times melancholic and at others, darkly funny. Lyrics and a voice that go together perfectly. Songs that conjure memories of lost youth and reflective introspection. I want to listen to this on repeat while ambling through Yosemite or another national park of equal stature and impressiveness. Or possibly in a coastal area or perhaps a desert. The geography is unimportant. You can listen to it pretty much anywhere.

Se escucha la voz de Phoebe muy clara, cristalina. El vinyl es mejor que la versión digital. Viene con un print de la cantante.