jhayehidio

Valentine is a record that highlights Courtney Marie Andrews as a songwriter capable of incredible warmth and vulnerability. Her voice is the undeniable star here. Her vocal performances are consistently great, carrying a weight and clarity that brings the delicate arrangements to life. There is a real beauty in the stripped back, intricate instrumentation that makes the project feel both intimate and at times hypnotic. It is a deeply personal listen, and the songwriting is sharp enough that it ... read more

Don't Be Dumb is a record that really hits its stride when the tracks go hard and the energy is high. HELICOPTER and STOLE YA FLOW stand out as immediate highlights in this regard, and the project features some good mixing in general that helps those harder moments land. However, the album is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to beat switches and experimentation. While the first half of DON'T BE DUMB / TRIP is gorgeous, the beat switch to the second half doesn't quite land. This ... read more

Quicksand Heart is a record of soaring highs and notable lulls. The tracks truly enter a higher stratosphere when Jenny utilizes her higher register, creating a sense of scale that feels both vast and intimate. This strength is best seen when the dynamics are pushed, such as on the anthemic, synth-led Every Ounce of Me, where the results are transcendent. The album also excels in its more delicate and vulnerable moments. The highlight Dolphins is an emotionally charged track that manages to ... read more

Selling A Vibe is a high-quality, dependable indie rock record. While it doesn't aim to be a world-conquering project, it is an incredibly tight collection defined by great performances and punchy execution. The record finds its commercial strength in several tracks that feel like classic, catchy indie rock anthems, though the momentum is occasionally hindered by a few cringe moments and tracks that lean toward being just "okay".

Despite the occasional filler, the album's ... read more