Eliza and The Delusionals
Make It Feel Like The Garden


4.0
excellent

Review

by Sowing STAFF
July 20th, 2024 | 19 replies


Release Date: 07/19/2024 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Give me somewhere to be, give me someone to be

Eliza & The Delusionals create the sort of indie-rock that takes you to the clouds. Lead singer/frontwoman Eliza Klatt’s voice is wispy and weightless – frequently soaring to divine heights – but is also capable of coming back down to earth and delivering a knockout blow when she sees fit. The magic surrounding the band’s sophomore release, comes partially from her vocal charm but is also due to the album’s creative vision – this cinematic, uplifting dreamscape brimming with lush interludes and songs that effortlessly segue into one another. It’s both a summer jam and an imaginative escape; a glistening utopia to which the mind will want to wander.

The soft sounds of nature usher us into this mystical garden, but the album’s aura gradually fuses itself with spacious, panoramic rock. We get bright, catchy tunes like ‘Another You’, which recalls Best Coast or perhaps even Alvvays, and ‘Hurts’, where the insanely memorable melodic inflections are almost Swiftian by nature (but far less self-engrossed). Gorgeous keyboard/saxophone flourishes add a majestic flair to the conclusions of ‘Falling For You’ and “I Wanna Love You’. We even get a Brian Aubert (of Silversun Pickups) cameo on the dreamy-yet-striking ‘Lately’, where driving guitars and lead synths pave the way for some of Eliza’s most poignant and heart-wrenching lyrics to-date: “I love you but I don’t want to / Am I wasting my time? Is this life worth living? It's fucked all the time.”

Make It Feel Like The Garden is one of those albums that seems to continually get better as it progresses, and there’s no better evidence than the closing duo of ‘Somebody’ and ‘Madison’. The former is the most elegant moment on the record, fusing elements of jazz with bittersweet lyrics of heartache, while the latter is an epic and decisive finale – replete with waves of crashing guitars and a simple notion of pure summer love: “you…you get me high.” This album’s only real weakness is that it doesn’t technically break any new ground; all these sounds – as beautifully inspiring as they are – have undoubtedly been explored before. However, Garden loses none of its ability to sweep you away through sheer euphoria. On the title track, Klatt sings, "Give me somewhere to be, give me someone to be." On their second full-length, Eliza & The Delusionals have certainly crafted a statement album and solidified their identity. It's ambitious, highly infectious, full of atmosphere...and as good as any garden I’ve ever stumbled upon.




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user ratings (12)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Sowing
Moderator
July 20th 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Came here for the SSPU feature, ended up really enjoying the entire thing.

BigTuna
July 21st 2024


5910 Comments


Never heard of them but definitely going to check this out

GreyShadow
July 21st 2024


7219 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

yeah, Lately is amazing.

t/t sounded good, i'll def get to this soon

Sowing
Moderator
July 21st 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Falling For You, Lately, Another You, Hurts, Somebody, and Madison are all great songs.

neekafat
Staff Reviewer
July 22nd 2024


26575 Comments


that album art is so pretty it should be illegal

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
July 22nd 2024


4053 Comments


Saw them open for The Front Bottoms of all people, excited to get proper into this. Lovely review.

Sowing
Moderator
July 22nd 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Might have to bump this to a 4.5. The melodies here are so sweet.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
July 22nd 2024


6109 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This has some excellent tunes but man does it feel disjointed - not sure why most of these interludes exist.

Sowing
Moderator
July 22nd 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Interludes rarely ever enhance an album for me. These ones don't enhance but don't actively detract either; they're just kind of pretty and there. The meat of the album, the core "songs", are quite enjoyable though. Still weighing the 4 vs 4.5 decision.

Whispered4tw
July 22nd 2024


936 Comments


Well listened to the title track and it kinda slaps. Next few drives to work will put this album on rotation I guess.

Sowing
Moderator
July 22nd 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah, all the songs are lowkey bops. They soar in an uplifting kind of way, and are memorable without trying to be. This album glistens naturally and is just really inviting.

zaruyache
July 23rd 2024


27630 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

will cheq

Sowing
Moderator
July 23rd 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Here's a playlist I made specifically for anyone who's not a fan of the interludes ;-) I also rearranged the tracks slightly because I think this flows better:



https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lM00BbtR9vpps0ZxOfxEf?si=3ea190cb8ec04c94

GreyShadow
July 23rd 2024


7219 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I'm hearing the Swift vibes and....not complaining

Sowing
Moderator
July 23rd 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

There are definitely some Swift vibes here and there... but they're like Swift vibes if she joined an indie-rock band very young instead of going the pop star route.

GreyShadow
July 23rd 2024


7219 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

exactly that. just finished. feel like the middle run was the weakest and some of the sax just feels like a little much but Lately and on is definitely amazing. Going to listen again without the interludes that did nothing lol but it's somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4 atm!

Sowing
Moderator
July 23rd 2024


44320 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Super glad you checked this and happy to hear you enjoyed!

Shamus248
Contributing Reviewer
July 30th 2024


1092 Comments


common Sowing review greatness....will peep album and get back to you

CrisStyles
August 3rd 2024


814 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Might eventually bump up to a 4, but it frustrates me how many interludes are on here, kills almost all of the momentum unnecessarily



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