Review Summary: Clairo does... folk???
Claire Cotrill's sophomore LP showcases an array of her previously unrecognized folk talents, assisted by the incredibly experienced Jack Antonoff. And by previously unrecognized, boy I ain't lying. From her bedroom pop debut Immunity, Clairo gave us a sneak peak into the backstory of her anguished yet playful life, backed by mid-fi synths and contrasting brash drums, as showcased on "Alewife".
In this album, her anguish is put on fore focus, accompanied by soft piano ballads accompanied by, and let me say this, extremely diverse and captivating instrumentals, consisting of slow, subtle drum beats, smooth glide basslines, surprisingly chill brass, flutes, and god, I can go on and on.
Lyrically this album shifts from 1st to 2nd person in order to maintain a juggle between the "I's" and "you's" in Clairo's slice of life magnum opus. While the album introduces itself to you by quietly roaming in the background, the upbeat Amoeba pulls you back in with its ear-wormy choral melody and swift backbeat. Blouse on the other hand, displays Claire's true emotive dilemma on her inability to even speak to the subject of the song, in which she speaks to on a regular basis, while she simultaneously continues to feel emotionally distant on their behalf. Jumping out from the corner of acoustic guitar, Wade opens the door to a quick yet honest and attention holding intro, breaking into a grand and unforgettable instrumental following with a collective of jazz riffs. Harbor, Wade's twin it seems, continues with a more somber and chilling intro, showcasing Claire's promising dedication to her partner, really purely showing that after all, she really cares about them.
Favorites: Amoeba, Blouse, Wade, Harbor, Reaper
Less Favorites (still quite good): Partridge, Just For Today, Little Changes, Management
7.8 / 10
