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songs and instrumentals
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84

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: The double LP solo release for the Big Thief artist was recorded in a cabin in Massachusetts with Philip Weinrobe and features two 20-minutes sound collages.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. The Independent (UK)
    Oct 22, 2020
    100
    It’s excruciating in its honesty – even for Lenker, who’s hardly known for shying away from her feelings. Now she bares her pain with complete abandon. It’s quite extraordinary.
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Oct 21, 2020
    90
    Instrumentals is an album which is both easy to understate and overstate. ... By ingeniously pairing this music with the straightforward Songs, Lenker paints them as two pieces of a whole, two completely different recordings of the same state of mind.
  3. DIY Magazine
    Oct 22, 2020
    90
    ‘songs’ feels like unearthing an old puzzle a piece at a time. ‘instrumentals’, while texturally the same, focuses on pure ambience – the unspecific title is far more deserving. If anything, this feels more like a companion piece, a window into that cabin rather than its own separate record. If you wish you had been there, this is the best way to feel like you were.
  4. Exclaim
    Oct 21, 2020
    80
    On instrumentals, Lenker settles down from songs' busier thoughts, indulging in the stoicism within to achieve moments of serenity, if only briefly. Deep breaths, everyone.
  5. Clash Music
    Oct 28, 2020
    80
    The sparse palette - Lenker’s acoustic, incidental percussion, reassuring tape hiss - serves to isolate the quiet brilliance of the melodies, setting their winding, spontaneous beauty against angst that spans existential questioning and the nuts and bolts of severing ties with someone you care about.
  6. Glide Magazine
    Oct 23, 2020
    80
    In itself songs is a soft companion to Big Thief’s two albums from 2019 and an album that effortlessly captures the aimless desperation of quarantine. It’s not so much that this work pales in comparison to the work with her band, even considering their outsized reputation; it’s more that Lenker achieves something completely different on her solo albums. songs like abysskiss provides insight and context to the broad beauty of Big Thief, and when being herself, Lenker proves successful.
  7. Mojo
    Oct 21, 2020
    60
    Songs draws itself into clearer focus through Lenker's sweet, freshly-cut voice. [Nov 2020, p.83]
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See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. ConnorBruce
    Nov 2, 2020
    10
    Painstakingly beautiful, Adrianne's song writing is vivid as she hones in a journey through grief and love.
  2. N4thanC0re
    Nov 3, 2020
    10
    goes harder than a boner
    HARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARDHARD
  4. letsrock
    Jun 19, 2021
    10
    The prettiest album of 2020. A perfect marriage of a musical heart and a love of nature. When I hear that an album was recorded in a cabin inThe prettiest album of 2020. A perfect marriage of a musical heart and a love of nature. When I hear that an album was recorded in a cabin in the woods, I should hope it sounds like this!… Expand
  5. Ricko
    Feb 15, 2021
    8
    Not everyone sees it but for me, Adrianne Lenker is one of the great talents to appear over the last 5 years. She has put out 4 albums withNot everyone sees it but for me, Adrianne Lenker is one of the great talents to appear over the last 5 years. She has put out 4 albums with "Big Thief" plus a few solo albums to boot. Prolific but also brilliant. This is her lockdown album simply called "songs" with an accompanying disc called "instrumentals". "songs" is as suitable a title you could come up with. Recorded in a cabin in the mountains of Massachusetts, the album is a lo fi affair with no studio production. All the polish on the songs comes directly from deep within Lenker. Her soft, sometimes brittle vocals gently layered upon elegant finger picked guitar. On the surface, this is folk music but it is coming from such a deep place it is of a mysterious and achingly beautiful nature. At times, it is heartbreaking but it is never depressing. Lenker… Expand
  6. Lajaleaa
    Mar 17, 2021
    8
    ( 88/100 )

    En el 2019 aprendí que no podría disfrutar ni un poco a Big Thief. Con música aburrida y realmente invisible, abandoné cualquier    ( 88/100 )

    En el 2019 aprendí que no podría disfrutar ni un poco a Big Thief. Con música aburrida y realmente invisible, abandoné cualquier intención de crear algún gusto por su música. A Lenker la escuché en "abysskiss" del 2018 y se me hizo normal, ni siquiera decente. Después de esos proyectos, la flojera de escuchar "songs" e "instrumentals" fue enorme. No sé de donde saqué las ganas de visitar estos proyectos pero ahora lo agradezco demasiado. Producido junto a Phil Weinrobe, "songs" es una delicia y belleza. Muy inmediatamente hay una luz delicada que penetra fuertemente en el alma del público. Con amables letras sobre la incertidumbre del amor y decidir disfrutar el romance que ahora florecen, cuidarlo y fortalecerlo, este álbum cura y acompaña las tristezas más arraigadas del corazón. Simplemente hay una increíble sensación de planitud difícil de describir que salvará vidas. Por favor escuchen estos proyectos.
    -
    In 2019 I learned that I would not be able to enjoy Big Thief. Not even a little. With boring and really invisible music, I give up any intention of having any taste for their music.
    I heard Lenker in "abysskiss" of 2018 and I thought she was normal, not even decent. After those projects, the laziness of hearing "songs" and "instrumentals" was huge. I don't know from where I took the energy to visit these projects but know I can not be more grateful. Produced with Phil Weinrobe, "songs" es a delight and a beauty. Very immediately, there is a delicate light that penetrates strongly in the soul of the public. With kind lyrics about the uncertainty of love and choosing to enjoy the romance the flourishes at the moment, take care of it, and strengthen it, this album heals and partners the most ingrained sadness of the heart. There is simply an incredible, hard to describe, sensation of fulfillment that will save lives. Please hear this.    … Expand
  7. All_ButTrU4
    Feb 12, 2022
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. song sounds like memories passing through your head as you fall asleep. it's so simple without being boring or generic. Her lyrics darker and mire profound tgen ever before. The sequencing is immaculate and the singles so telling of the overall sound. She navigates nostalgia, loss and heartbreak expertly that they begin to feel the same. My favorites:half return,anything, zombie girl.… Expand
  8. Melisa0210
    Nov 10, 2020
    4
    La cancion de Adrianne es hermosa pero el resto deja mucho que desear, un trabajo regular.

See all 8 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best Album of 2020

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