Alternately bitter and sweet but invariably vulnerable, Doomin' Sun is indie music at its most engaging, and Kempner and Duterte make a relatable pair.
Their music touches on not just love and lust, but pain and psychedelia, an innate need to adore and adulate, right up to the edge of destruction.
Duterte and Kempner manage to break the mould with Doomin' Sun, proving their chops as singular visionaries as well as synergetic collaborators.
Doomin’ Sun is the product of mutual respect and friendship and you can literally hear how much the two members of this band care about each other and the music they make in every note sung and strummed.
It may be overstating things to say Duterte and Kempner belong together, but their musical union sure is satisfying.
Though Doomin’ Sun’s forbearing title tells us one thing, these songs at least compel you to undergo the worst thrown at you in the most comfortable of places. This album embraces you like your favorite seat, preserving your outline intimately in its fabric.
Doomin’ Sun is many things at once: a deep-dive into queerness, an exercise in vulnerability and the product of an effortless, working relationship where laughing is just as important as focus.
Doomin' Sun is the result of a project from two amazing talented women that I admire a lot. An album that is based on soft grounds yet it has room for a little chaos. Since I've heard the single 'Stay in the Car' my hype went up, here listening to the full project I'm glad for their work. The songs are cohesive but tbh I expected this record to be a little more on the wild side, still a very great group of tracks that have a ton of sadness and a ton of abrasive lyrics.
FAVORITE TRACK: Moon
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Sand Angel
Bachelor is the joint project of Jay Som and Ellen Kempner (Palehound). I've been super excited for this project since the first single because I've loved both of these artists for a very long time. I really anticipated this because I thought Kempner's raspy voice would match really well with Jay Som's upbeat and truly guitars.
This album has really great lyrics. Doomin' Sun and Aurora are really beautiful and descriptive, focusing a lot ... read more
Dusty drums introduce ‘Back Of My Hand’ with heart on sleeve lyrics that sing of collaboration, friendship and mutual adoration over familiar 1979 styled groove with Silversun Pickups feels and synth. Pixies off-kilter indie flavours ‘Sand Angel’ as it limps into modern age ethereal dream pop. ‘Stay In The Car’ hits with 90s punk energy while ‘Went Without You’ sounds acoustically lost and searching and I think fans of Adrianne Lenker will enjoy ... read more
there are some solid songs here. "spin out" and "anything at all" come to mind. however, they don't really lean into the more experimental stuff to make this album a super memorable listen. however, it's very fun and i'd still recommend it!
This album sounds like existential dread, frustration, and climate change. I love it. It's a newborn from two experienced collaborators and if they did this again I'm certain it would border a perfect 10.
Fav Tracks: Doomin' Sun, Sick of Spiraling, Spin Out
Nice collaboration.
Best songs: Back of My Hand, Stay in the Car, Anything at All, Sick of Spiraling
1 | Back Of My Hand 3:29 | 85 |
2 | Sand Angel 2:20 | 78 |
3 | Stay in the Car 2:44 | 68 |
4 | Went Out Without You 3:09 | 64 |
5 | Spin Out 3:29 | 78 |
6 | Anything at All 3:20 | 68 |
7 | Moon 3:13 | 76 |
8 | Sick of Spiraling 4:27 | 71 |
9 | Aurora 4:06 | 67 |
10 | Doomin' Sun 3:06 | 72 |
#6 | / | Rolling Stone: Rob Sheffield |
#15 | / | Sound Opinions: Jim DeRogatis |
#17 | / | The Wild Honey Pie |
#38 | / | Dork |
#40 | / | No Ripcord |
#66 | / | Under the Radar |