Sharon Van Etten

Add Date: May 20 

Artist: Sharon Van Etten 

Album: Are We There 

Label: Jagjaguwar 

Genre: Rock, alt-pop

Comments: Sharon Van Etten's breakthrough 2012 release, Tramp, left the New Jersey native feeling unsatisfied. Yes, it had garnered heaps of critical praise, but much of the attention was focused on the production of The National's Aaron Dessner and a guest list that featured Zach Condon (Beirut), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak), and Julianna Barwick, among others. (I was certainly guilty of that in my review on this blog, though I like to think that I gave Van Etten equal credit for the album's brilliance.)

So Van Etten wanted to match, if not exceed, that effort without the help of famous friends; combine that with the end of a long-term relationship, and the stage was set for her magnificent fourth LP, Are We There. Working as her own producer, she crafts another amazing set of intimate, staggeringly beautiful pop songs, which run the gamut from R&B-tinged, lightly electronic ("Taking Chances", "Your Love Is Killing Me") to intricate chamber pop ("Break Me", "You Know Me Well") to heart-wrenching ballads ("I Love You But I'm Lost", "I Know"). Once again, Van Etten proves herself as one of the most entrancing songwriters around, and she has the musical chops to turn her captivating lyrics into pop par excellence.

For a deeper look into Van Etten's life and musical career, check out Ryan Leas' feature on Stereogum. And jump right into Are We There--it's one of 2014's best.

Recommended Tracks: 2, 3, 8, 7, 6, 4

DNP: 1, 11