release date: Sep 5, 2025
format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Grant-Lee Phillips
label: Yep Roc - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Little Men" - 2. "Did You Make It Through the Night Okay" - 3. "Closer Tonight" - 4. "Bullies" - 6. "She Knows Me" (4 / 5) - 7. "Someone" - 8. "No Mistaking" - 9. "Dark Ages" - 10. "American Lions"
12th studio album by Grant-Lee Phillips following 3½ years after All That You Can Dream (May 2022) is made much in the usual style by Grant-Lee, which means traditional folk with a contemporary touch of country and americana. That said, all of his albums are distinct in style - perhaps not varying like others tend to do but with more subtle variations.
This one, is one of his stronger ballad-oriented albums, perhaps sharing some of the sentiments of the predecessor. There's a melancholic simplicity seeping through all tracks here - Adam Sobsey of PopMatters has called this one 'lullabies for adults', but regardless the slow-burn of the songs this is simply no less than a strong contender to Grant-Lee's second best album to date. I've had it on repeat throughout the last months of the year - possibly being the album that I have played the most from 2025, and apart from Salif Keita's So Kono there's just no other album that has touched me like this one, and for now I see it as the best album of the year.
Highly recommended.
[ Mojo 4 / 5, PopMatters, Uncut 3,5 / 5 stars ]
