Intial score:8 (19/02/22)
rescore:7.7 (18/03/22)
Alynda Segarra said her 10th release felt like a debut which might sound confusing given how the caliber of her previous releases wouldn't be something to omit but now I've heard it. I understand the momentous significance of "Life on earth" how it bookends a rebirth. I don't know why but listening to it sounds like how a burnt fieldIntial score:8 (19/02/22)
rescore:7.7 (18/03/22)
Alynda Segarra said her 10th release felt like a debut which might sound confusing given how the caliber of her previous releases wouldn't be something to omit but now I've heard it. I understand the momentous significance of "Life on earth" how it bookends a rebirth. I don't know why but listening to it sounds like how a burnt field smells,sounds like heat. Which is ampt given it's themes of renewal and how she captures it's variations with enough care they maintain their depths. It feels hyperbolic to call this record flawless but it's not far off. Reminiscent of "fetch the bolt cutters " spirit and waxahachee "st. cloud " it delivers a searing biography of survival.
A manifesto on surviving "life on earth " begins with a retreat. "Not safe at home anymore" evoke a betrayal of security that tells you all it needs of it's intention. And the running only goes on further from there as escapes appear in songs routinely. Despite it's heavy themes it has a resilient joy that we first taste in the lead single "PIERCED ARROWS " which through it's chorus of "hey that's no way to die" affrirms that even in hopeless circumstances there's a tomorrow worth staying for. The bubbling 3rd track finds community in knowing pain is universal and they aren't alone, their pain isn't unique. The Jesus symbolism indicative of pain for salvation adds a hopeful meaning to the title almost suggesting life on earth is only that and not all of life and to horde your trauma is to crucify yourself. "Rhododendron" is a coming to terms with not knowing and it's rhythm is deceptively chipper for someone realizing they've been robbed of themselves but when she says"don't turn back on the mainland" i know she means don't give up on finding yourself. "Jupiter's dance" slides with a cate le bon groove to cleanse the weight of "Rhododendron'' before the ballad title track descends. When she says life on earth is long she sounds tired,exhausted by living ,a depressing notion to keep.
However "nightqueen" revels in the impermanence as if to say life is only long while you live it and shorter in the past so to enjoy it's freedoms ,it sounds like a sequel to Cassandra Jenkins "hard drive". "Precious cargo" takes a backseat into someone elses perspective as they chase the American dream Segarra was born into.its creativity reminds me of a 2021 higlight "una rosa" that tackles similar topics on "who shot ya".it's directness and sing speak give a genuine platform to ICE brutality, it's slow and infuriated. I don't know what exactly "rosemary tears " attempts to say beyond pining to begin again without being able to let go,the trumpets are beautiful ,like bon iver __45__ .
The higlight of this journey comes in the second to last song where a relationship riddled with abuse is recounted with a tripping honesty that i gasped my first listen with goosebumps across my arms. It's only fitting the final song is a 50sec instrumental that sounds like water washing over a shore. A cleanse. Something new finally beginning.… Expand
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