Name: Sprained Ankle
Brand: Julien Baker

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

ole11192

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Discs

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2017-03-17

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

PIAS

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

0744861111924

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Julien Baker

Genre GB

Singer Songwriter

Label GB

Matador

Essential

Memphis, TN-based songwriter Julien Baker is the latest addition to the Matador Records roster. The 21-year-old’s devastating and vulnerable debut album, <i>Sprained Ankle</i>, which was originally released in 2015 and now gets re-released by Matador. The album was recorded at Spacebomb Studios, though Julien's songs don’t share the down-home gloss of the other albums produced there. Instead of beefing up her honest tunes with rich layering like Natalie Prass or Matthew E. White, Baker pares her songs down to their simplest possible format: alone, singing and playing acoustic guitar directly into the microphone, sometimes in a single take. That decision resulted in a remarkable record, one full of beautiful, personal explorations revealed in stark intimacy. That choice makes a lot of sense for Baker’s voice, both in the literal and figurative sense. Rather than Prass’ sweet, soaring tones or White’s blue-eyed soul, Sprained Ankle is delivered in reedy whispers and chilled coos. Released just before she turned 20 years old, the record still sounds raw - not that her voice lacks control or power, but rather that the weariness of songs about death, breakups, and existential questioning are sung with incredible presence. They’re coming of age songs from someone still coming of age, the wounds still fresh, the big truths currently being revealed. There are the struggles of depression, drugs, loneliness, but the clear-eyed way she faces it all supersedes any platitude.

Sprained Ankle

Music GB