“Angel,” Lizzy McAlpine’s new album, released Sept. 18. Although there are some mixed reviews, “Angel” hits the mark for me.
The songs “Ugly things” and “The light in the painting” were released as singles from the album before the full one dropped.
McAlpine is known for her folksy, indie-genre blend. “Angel” as an album leans more into the folk sound. Her music is filled with deep, sentimental and heart-wrenching lyrics that never fail to hit a bit too close to home.
A few of the standout songs on this album for me include: “The light in the painting,” “A car wash and a new pair of pants,” “Soldier of the road (feat. Fleet Foxes)” and “Our strange ways.”
McAlpine recently said she accidentally copied a Nick Drake song in “A car wash and a new pair of pants.” She and her label reached out to his estate and label, and they allowed her to credit him on the song. “I think he was one of the greats… and now his name is next to mine, which is so crazy,” said McAlpine on the Switched on Pop podcast.
Some of the other songs on the album didn’t grab my attention as quickly, but I know with time they will grow on me. One of the songs that grows on me the more I listen to it is “Angel,” the album’s closer and namesake. This song feels like a lullaby in a way, and her voice is absolutely angelic in it.
The album takes a different emotional approach than the last. Instead of being focused solely on heartbreak, she also zooms in more on the idea of a blooming love. A great example of this is in “Peach,” when she sings that “In sync/we balance our lives together/you know how to make me better.”
Overall, this album is a full-circle moment for McAlpine, and it has a little bit of everything in it. This album is not full-on devastating heartbreak but moments of gentle reflection and growth woven into the songs. There are songs of happiness, grief and love all rolled into one album created in two years of dedication.
7/10
Ren Chaffee is a sophomore strategic communication major with a minor in rhetoric/writing and has a passion for writing and music. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, spending time in nature and hanging out with her dog.
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