Saint Cloud - Waxahatchee: Review
is the Alabama based indie folk project of singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. She has been a persistent voice in indie music over the past decade since first breaking out with her 2013 sophomore record Cerulean Salt. She found even more success on her most recent fourth record Out In The Storm back in 2017 but with an EP and a handful of singles leading up to her fifth record she showed a move towards a more country inspired track.
Review By Lavender:
Despite the fact that I've never really considered Waxahatchee one of the premiere songwriters of modern indie music I have enjoyed her pretty consistently good output over the past ten years or so. Records like Cerulean Salt and Out In The Storm won't blow your mind but they will probably come together to make some of the most consistent singer-songwriter records you'll hear as of recent. After not really enjoying the country twist that Katie's last EP had and having mixed feelings towards the singles released before this record I was skeptical going into it and as it turned out that was for good reason. While the album has its moments of unique songwriting and sweet sounds it isn't on the same level as her best work.
The song that got my skepticism started for the record was the single Can't Do Much and indie song with a distinct country tawng. I'm not the biggest fan of the songs hook but it's at least easy on the ears. This basically becomes the bassline of the record spare for a few songs. Hell is a track that doesn't click with me much at all the wobbly guitar riffs are incredibly weird and the sugary cook sounds like it comes from the most derivative of pop country songs from the first half of the last decade. Some of the records more country inspired ballads never really get to me, and tend to drag on. Neither The Eye or Arkadelpha make that much of an impression on me and where the former switches up its sound too frequently to get into any progression the latter beats its really boring refrains to death for far too long.
The opening track Oxbow is a sweet and simple introduction to the record but doesn't have a whole lot to it beyond that. The same can be said for the single Lilacs which features some of the most predominant country vocals on the record and works its way into a handfu of dramatic highs that never truly made that strong of an impression on me. Witches is my favorite of the classic indie folk style tracks on the record the song isn't groundbreaking but it is pretty good and could have definitely fit in on previous Waxahatchee records.
My favorite tracks on the record are the ones that show off Katie's range as a vocalist and it started with the single Fire. She pushes beyond the easy listening vibe much of the record has and delivers an emotive and interesting performance that matches the songs subject matter really well. War is a deep cut that does this exact same thing later on the record with some real emphasis in the vocals and a dynamic and interesting progression for another one of my favorites. The second to last song Ruby Falls is another highlight and one of the catchiest pieces of songwriting on the album. The woozy vocals and keys blend together with the loose drum pattern to make for one of the dreamiest Waxahatchee songs ever. Despite some of its quieter moments the songs progression as a whole is really dynamic and engaging.
Saint Cloud isn't bad but in the grander scheme of things it isn't really anything special in singer-songwriter music this year or in Katie's greater discography. There is a distinct country twang to the record that gives it a unique style and if you've enjoyed her music in the past there are certainly tracks here that will be worthwhile but there have already been better records that sound like this in 2020.
