{"id":3481,"date":"2010-12-02T21:52:05","date_gmt":"2010-12-02T21:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/?p=3481"},"modified":"2010-12-05T22:50:35","modified_gmt":"2010-12-05T22:50:35","slug":"sharon-van-etten-epic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/2010-12\/sharon-van-etten-epic\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharon Van Etten–“epic”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We knew we’d heard that voice somewhere before.\u00a0 Turns out Sharon Van Etten sang backup vocals on The Antler’s <\/strong><\/a>auspicious “Hospice”<\/strong><\/a> album from last year.\u00a0 Van Etten released her second record “epic” two months ago, and it is currently occupying copious amounts of our musical jukebox.<\/p>\n

Though only a sub-“epic” seven songs in length, Brooklyn-based (of course) singer\/songwriter Sharon Van Etten nonetheless delivers epic proportions of musical art on this record. Her voice is pure but edgy (think Kristen Hersh or Cat Power), and conveys well the honesty of Van Etten’s rampant lyrical pathos. \u00a0 As opposed to her first record, Van Etten is backed on “epic” by a full band and enhanced with enticing interstitial instrumentation (harmonium; plucked guitar) and harmony vocals. Her delivery manages to make the confessional lyrics levitate.\u00a0 Our favorite song off “epic” is the transcendent final song, Love More, <\/em>which is built around a simple chord pattern that ebbs and flows perfectly throughout and adds mournful ghosting-harmonies that embellish the burnished beauty of the song.<\/p>\n

As opposed to Love More<\/em>, another of our faves, Don\u2019t Do It,<\/em> has a heavier, muddier electric guitar\/harmonium mix that borders on anthem in the oft-repeated chorus. We hear the influence of her interaction with The Antlers.\u00a0Don\u2019t Do It<\/em> smacks of a desperate plea to a downtrodden soul (\u201cLook me in the eyes, say you can\u2019t do it\u201d) not dissimilar in theme to The Antlers’ song Wake<\/em>. Van Etten sings well of the pain and frustration, ultimately ending in resigned resolve (“I wish I could make you right\u201d).<\/p>\n

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Check out Love More<\/em> and Don’t Do It<\/em> below, along with the video of her performing Love More <\/em>solo. \u00a0And then check out the great segment from Shaking Through. \u00a0Stunning stuff.<\/p>\n

Love More<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Chained to the wall of our room
\nyeah you chained me like a dog in our room
\nI thought that’s how it was
\nI thought that we were fine
\nthen the day was night
\nyou were high you were high when I was doomed
\nand dying for with no light with no light<\/p>\n

Tied to my bed
\nI was younger then
\nI had nothing to spend but time on you
\nbut it made me love it made me love it made me love more
\nit made me love it made me love it made me love more<\/p>\n

Do what you said the words she said left out
\nover unto the sky where I’ll soon fly
\nand she took the time
\nto believe in to believe in what she said
\nand she made me love she made me love she made me love more
\nshe made me love she made me love she made me love more.”<\/p>\n

Sharon Van Etten–Love More<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LoveMore.mp3|titles=LoveMore]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sharon Van Etten–Don’t Do It<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/dontdoit.mp3|titles=dontdoit]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch Van Etten perform Love More <\/em>below.<\/p>\n