Photo by Frank Ockenfels
Stranger In The Alps is the debut of 22 y/o Phoebe Bridgers. It is also a textbook example of how good an album can be when you combine an artist with a beautiful voice, wonderfully written songs and production that sets out to give the artist space and never tries to overshadow him or her in any fashion. It is a wonderfully executed album and all in involved should be proud.
The album opens up strong with its two best tracks – Smoke Signals, a visually arresting track that name checks Bowie, Lemmy and a tune by The Smiths; and Motion Sickness, a song built on a crunchy guitar lick that speaks of getting fucked over by a friend/lover.
While those two tracks are my favorites, the rest of the album is excellent as well. The gorgeous Funeral follows; almost confessional in context as Bridgers tries to cope with the sudden death of one of her piers. Killer is a heavy melancholy piano ballad. Georgia follows with some gorgeous harmonies.
22 years old, a killer album under your belt and you count Ryan Adams and Conor Oberst among your fans. Seems so easy. Stranger In The Alps is one of the finest debut LPs of 2017.
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Phoebe Bridgers is here
