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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
brilliant debut. the intelligence of Father John Misty without the pedantic knowingness. strong, smart, and surprising. more in common with Adrianne Lenker, Mackenzie Scott, and Margaret Glaspy, than Julia Jacklin, Angel Olsen, and Margo Timmins, but I get the comparisons, and they are all favorable. like Walter said, "this is what happens when you find a stranger in the alps". she turns out to be not your special lady, but your lady friend.
listening to Phoebe explain in Song Exploder (podcast) that the drums in Scott Street come in right after the lyric "I asked you 'How is playing drums?' / You said it's too much shit to carry" was one of my great joys of 2019
Smoke Signals - 8/10
Motion Sickness - 10/10
Funeral - 10/10
Demi Moore - 8/10
Scott Street - 8/10
Killer - 10/10
Georgia - 9/10
Chelsea - 8/10
Would You Rather - 10/10
You Missed My Heart - 8/10
Smoke Signals (Reprise) - NOT RATED
Overall Rating: 89 out of 100 = 89%
Overall Opinion: Beautiful singer-songwriter debut from a heartbreakingly beautiful voice. I liken her to Julien Baker in that they have those voices that can expose emotion without sounding whiny. The album is very chill and ... read more
Motion Sickness - 10/10
Funeral - 10/10
Demi Moore - 8/10
Scott Street - 8/10
Killer - 10/10
Georgia - 9/10
Chelsea - 8/10
Would You Rather - 10/10
You Missed My Heart - 8/10
Smoke Signals (Reprise) - NOT RATED
Overall Rating: 89 out of 100 = 89%
Overall Opinion: Beautiful singer-songwriter debut from a heartbreakingly beautiful voice. I liken her to Julien Baker in that they have those voices that can expose emotion without sounding whiny. The album is very chill and ... read more
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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
Decade Lists
| #25 | / | The Key (2010s) |
| #34 | / | Paste (2010s) |
| #61 | / | Gaffa (Sweden) [2010s] |
| / | Albumism (2010s) |
Track List
- Smoke Signals
- Motion Sickness
- Funeral
- Demi Moore
- Scott Street
- Killer
- Georgia
- Chelsea
- Would You Rather
- You Missed My Heart
- Smoke Signals (Reprise)
In Library (72)
Added on: September 16, 2017
