There’s something to be said for the potential for personal growth inherent in traveling without a destination, and every song here is the sound of Julie Byrne making peace with her restlessness.
Singer-songwriter Julie Byrne’s new album has the lucidity and tactility of a healing crystal. Not unlike Phil Elverum, she paints sublime, awestruck moments when simple things become overwhelming.
The result is a record that’s concerned about faith, death, and the metaphysical. It’s heady stuff but grounded with vignettes of everyday activities—a beautiful, comforting second work from the singer.
Not Even Happiness is a gem of an album and listeners who appreciate the works of artists like Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell and Sufjan Steven will find much to admire. There is a lot to appreciate on the album, especially Byrne’s delightful voice which carries so much emotion in her delivery while being utterly organic and guileless.
Not Even Happiness is intent on taking us back to the garden and in these cynical times, perhaps there’s a vacuum across the ocean for artists that are warmer, purer, less needy than the careerist indie-rock that has gone before. Long may this Morning Dove not Tweet.
Abetted by some sparse orchestration, the beauty of Not Even Happiness takes effect even if you can’t make out Byrne’s measured poeticism: the voice is a balm.
Second proper album from rootless songwriter Julie Byrne rejects the idea of the great outdoors as a limitless confession booth, and makes it into a legitimate source of desire.
Not Even Happiness is a triumph of subtlety, proof that music doesn't have to be forceful to be powerful.
Listening to Not Even Happiness is like being wrapped up in blanket as a child; it gives you comfort and more than a little reassurance, whatever the future may have in store.
On each and every song, her performance exhibits a natural and believable energy that keeps things alluring even during its quietest moments. It’s that feeling -- like she’s baring her soul with each tender retrospection -- that makes Not Even Happiness feel like such a forbidden pleasure to the listener. Each time you listen to it, you feel like you’re gaining a little piece of rare knowledge from the singer’s weathered and experienced life.
Beyond the hushed sounds of the record, Byrne, for the most part, is not timid but in possession of a rich confidence.
The decidedly naturalistic Not Even Happiness may imply that Byrne is simply catering to her own desires, but in doing so, she’s actually inviting us to witness her growth as both an artist and an individual.
Although it’s cliché to talk about an assured sophomore effort, Not Even Happiness shows just what Byrne is capable of with crisp production and a wealth of self-reflective travel in support of Rooms with Walls and Windows.
Here, she reestablishes what has been her trademark: delicate, dreamy folk governed by a quiet melancholia.
@Missing_Lyriks recommendation (Three of six).
I wasn't expecting a folk album, but I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It has a very mellow, pleasant sound to it that makes it an enjoyable listen.
The thing about this album is that it doesn't really keep me interested in the tracks enough for it to be something I would listen to man times, but this album is beautifully done and so well put together that it gets a pretty high score from me.
This album is soft, mellow, and gentle ... read more
I would take a long time to listen to this album and it turned out to be a better album than any that I heard in 2016.
Tracks 10/10 is a natural blue, melting grid, follow my voice, sea as it glides.
This album is the essence of what I love about music - dreamy, full of space and guitar + keys.
I told you it would be a typical 8.3 to Pitchfork, but for me it 9.0
@Missing_Lyriks recommendation (Three of six).
I wasn't expecting a folk album, but I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It has a very mellow, pleasant sound to it that makes it an enjoyable listen.
The thing about this album is that it doesn't really keep me interested in the tracks enough for it to be something I would listen to man times, but this album is beautifully done and so well put together that it gets a pretty high score from me.
This album is soft, mellow, and gentle ... read more
1 | Follow My Voice 4:02 | 95 |
2 | Sleepwalker 4:19 | 93 |
3 | Melting Grid 4:21 | 95 |
4 | Natural Blue 3:59 | 93 |
5 | Interlude 1:37 | 71 |
6 | Morning Dove 2:59 | 96 |
7 | All the Land Glimmered Beneath 3:04 | 95 |
8 | Sea as It Glides 4:12 | 95 |
9 | I Live Now as a Singer 4:04 | 98 |
#9 | / | SPIN |
#14 | / | Uncut |
#19 | / | The Wild Honey Pie |
#20 | / | Stereogum |
#25 | / | Gorilla vs. Bear |
#27 | / | Paste |
#28 | / | MOJO |
#37 | / | BrooklynVegan |
#37 | / | Consequence of Sound |
#37 | / | Pitchfork |