Doomin’ Sun

Bachelor - Doomin’ Sun
Critic Score
Based on 13 reviews
2021 Ratings: #175 / 753
User Score
Based on 242 ratings
2021 Rank: #457
Liked by 24 people
May 28, 2021 / Release Date
LP / Format
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
PopMatters

Alternately bitter and sweet but invariably vulnerable, Doomin' Sun is indie music at its most engaging, and Kempner and Duterte make a relatable pair.

90
DIY
Each song pirouettes on the emotional chasm between intimate, physical union, and lonesome psychological vulnerability.
85
Under the Radar
Sometimes songwriting duos are famous as much for their conflict as for their collaboration. That is not the case with Bachelor, as Duterte and Kempner’s friendship and palpable creative chemistry underpin some of their strongest work to date.
80
AllMusic
While varied in style and arrangements, the album maintains a certain heartfelt, longing tone and unvarnished immediacy that engage in tandem with its solid songwriting core.
80
The Line of Best Fit

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.

80
Exclaim!

Duterte and Kempner manage to break the mould with Doomin' Sun, proving their chops as singular visionaries as well as synergetic collaborators.

80
Northern Transmissions

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.

80
Dork
Just two friends who love music doing exactly what they do best.
79
Paste

It may be overstating things to say Duterte and Kempner belong together, but their musical union sure is satisfying.

75
Beats Per Minute

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.

71
Pitchfork
The collaborative album by Jay Som’s Melina Duterte and Palehound’s Ellen Kempner tells compelling and rarely heard stories, but doesn’t reach the same highs as their respective solo work.
70
Rolling Stone
What happens when two great songwriters huddle in a Topanga Cannyon house to make an album? In the case of Jay Som and Palehound, pure indie-rock sunshine.
70
Loud and Quiet

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.

marvelgaryen
74

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.

currentjoyys
71

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

Music_Nerds
73

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

larkwashere
73

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!

mothbag
90

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

73

Nice collaboration.

Best songs: Back of My Hand, Stay in the Car, Anything at All, Sick of Spiraling

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Track List

1Back Of My Hand
3:29
85
2Sand Angel
2:20
78
3Stay in the Car
2:44
68
4Went Out Without You
3:09
64
5Spin Out
3:29
78
6Anything at All
3:20
68
7Moon
3:13
76
8Sick of Spiraling
4:27
71
9Aurora
4:06
67
10Doomin' Sun
3:06
72
Total Length: 33 minutes
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Added on: March 24, 2021