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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Like the best sad-bastard music, Stranger In The Alps alchemizes sorrow into redemptive beauty. It’s never about wallowing, but about slowly moving through it. That difference, played out over some incredible, wise-beyond-her-years songwriting, makes it one of the best albums of the year.
91
It’s a gentle, wistful, even mournful record that makes for an outstanding coming-out party for Bridgers and a haunting experience for the listener, with melodies and sentiments that linger, softly and poignantly, long after the music ends.
90
The gripping tension between vulnerability and courage on Los Angeles musician Phoebe Bridgers' debut album, Stranger in the Alps, is something that usually takes singer-songwriters numerous attempts to achieve — if ever.
90
Phoebe Bridgers is a 23 year old LA-based songwriter who early collaborator Ryan Adams has already compared to Bob Dylan and while that’s undoubtedly hyperbole at the moment, Stranger In The Alps is certainly one of those records that seem destined to herald a long-lasting career.
85
The delicate ferocity of her voice and kick of lyrical angst rightfully place Bridgers in the same realm as revered artists Julia Jacklin and Angel Olsen.
80
An effortless, emotive landscape throughout, Bridgers manages to tug at your heartstrings while giving you the ability to accept your fate.
80
Across these songs, Bridgers manages an unusual marriage of delicacy and lo-fi wit, and it's a union that has led her to quietly make one of the albums of the year.
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4mo
80
The record is a stunning achievement, and one that heralds the arrival of a major talent, undoubtedly in it for the long haul. Even more importantly, it feels special in an intangible way that I’m at something of a loss to explain.
80
‘Strangers In The Alps’ is definitely album for the sad times. Get ready to embrace the tears.
80
‘Stranger in the Alps’ is as accomplished a solo debut as you’ll hear all year - a quietly devastating listen worthy of Phoebe Bridgers’ obvious influences.
80
Her voice, rich in vulnerability and attitude, commands this edgy, deeply personal landscape.
4mo
78
Whether she’s touching on the impact of losing a legend like Bowie or battling her own demons, Strangers in the Alps is a vibrant and rare debut that’s not afraid to tell it how it is.
75
She has proven that her sweet and somber storytelling can stand its own ground.
70
The span of time these songs cover can make Stranger in the Alps feel overwhelming and occasionally incohesive. Playing it from front to back comes with the intensity of scrolling all the way through someone’s Facebook photos.
70
The debut long-player from the Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter, Stranger in the Alps is a candid, wry, death-obsessed, and altogether transfixing collection of ruminative indie-folk confections that invoke names like Elliott Smith, Jenny Lewis, Laura Marling, Julien Baker, and Lisa Germano.
70
Stranger in the Alps contains enough glimmers of talent that it’s easy to believe once she’s seen a bit more of the world and done a bit more as an artist, she will return with a stronger second effort.
60
Equal parts Mary Lou Lord and Margo Timmins, Bridgers is someone finding her way, trying things out, rarely settling for easy when something more is called for.
60
Throughout, her lyrics betray a convincing world-weariness.
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4mo
Stranger in the Alps is a really dark, yet sweet folk debut from Phoebe Bridgers. This is my first album from her, and I am quite happy with it. The production and mixing is stunning, and she puts a ton of care into making sure these songs sound heavenly. The songs are all very sonically consistent, and engaging for the most part.
This album does suffer from a couple of things. It is frontloaded. The best songs are at the start, and it slowly starts to sound like an amateurish folk album by ... read more
Love is long and love is important, love is kind and love is powerful but most importantly... love can end, and most importantly to you, you need to know when it does. Phoebe Bridges' debut album is a powerful, slow fire that slowly sets your heart aflame, that fire never really burning out... because it was always there. While musically this album isn't an impressive feat, nor is it really anything new, what makes this album resonate with you the most are the lyrics and the vocals. The ... read more
Phoebe Bridgers is so cool guys I’m so different! No, for real though, Stranger in the Alps is mesmerizing. Phoebe’s vocals are so sweet and heartbreaking and her lyrics range from devastating to emotionally lost. It’s such a beautiful listen. I like the way she writes even if I can’t understand some of the deeper stuff on a casual listen. Motion Sickness makes me feel sick because of how much I can relate. The entirety of Scott Street is tear inducing and the ending is ... read more
now dont get me wrong i liked this... im just not sure if i see in phoebe bridgers what everyone else does
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Track List
| 1 | Smoke Signals 5:24 | 92 |
| 2 | Motion Sickness 3:49 | 94 |
| 3 | Funeral 3:52 | 92 |
| 4 | Demi Moore 3:18 | 85 |
| 5 | Scott Street 5:05 | 93 |
| 6 | Killer 3:09 | 85 |
| 7 | Georgia 4:07 | 88 |
| 8 | Chelsea 4:42 | 78 |
| 9 | Would You Rather 3:19 | 82 |
| 10 | You Missed My Heart 6:57 | 84 |
| 11 | Smoke Signals (Reprise) 0:33 | 77 |
Total Length: 44 minutes
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
| #3 | / | The Wild Honey Pie |
| #6 | / | musicOMH |
| #7 | / | The Sunday Times |
| #9 | / | Bandcamp Daily |
| #10 | / | BBC Radio 6 Music |
| #11 | / | BrooklynVegan |
| #13 | / | Sputnikmusic |
| #14 | / | Norman Records |
| #17 | / | The Skinny |
More Lists
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1mo
The only valid way to enjoy Scott Street is to listen to it from the very beginning and let the ending hit you, no "sped up" or "slowed + reverb"
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Added on: September 16, 2017