Julien Baker - Turn Out The Lights (October 27, 2017) Album • Page 39

Trying not to be that guy that cries at the gym right now tho

 

Folks that like this should check out the Common Holly album that came out today. It’s not exactly the same but there’s definitely overlap. Plus she opened the Canadian dates of Julien Baker’s tour.

 

I’ve only been able to listen once all the way through so please bear with my spotty initial impressions! This is very, very good, an improvement in Sprained Ankle in every way. I really think we’ve been granted the opportunity to see the beginning of someone so important, who will be so prolific.

I grew up in an oppressively religious home and have struggled with my “faith” since my teens. Julien is the first artist to not only outline the struggle I’ve felt trying to reconcile a spiritual understanding with the heel of a church i never felt was preaching what is written. Her music makes me feel close to whatever “God” is in a way I didn’t think was possible as a queer, mentally ill person.

Musically, it’s gorgeous. I can’t remember which recent interview it was, but she mentioned using worship group as a way to get into music, and it shows. The choral aspects of this record are astounding. I think there is no purer way to express faith than to create beautiful music, and god, has she done that. On top of that, the piano and strings working together are just incredible.

I can’t wait to go back to this and have a more immersed listening experience, but I think this is a real contender for AOTY for me.

 

The strings on 'Everything That Helps You Sleep' are sublime

I think if I was in a sad place in my life I would be sobbing at every song.

 

I always thought Sprained Ankle was decent but a bit too over the top at times for my taste. I'm really appreciating the more subtle but imo just as powerful approach this album takes. Really impressed!

 

Is it too early for “And I would go to church on Sunday” to be iconic? Cause for some reason holding that beat after really does it for me.

 

I read that as "ironic" the first three times and was trying for the life of me to figure out what was ironic about it lol

 

I know you were trying to help
But you're only making it worse
Tell me that I shouldn't blame myself
But you can't even imagine how badly it hurts
Just to think sometimes
How I think almost all the time

 

This album hits me really hard. My girlfriend suffers from serious depression and anxiety, and hearing some of the lyrics present here just stings. It's hard not to be selfish and feel as though I'm just an emotional punching bag sometimes, but these songs help ground me, and highlight how much more difficult it is being the one actually going through these things.

And it's also just weird feeling as though I can relate to the songs, when I know people have it worse. I have a relatively easy life, and still it winds me up that I get so worked up and upset when I literally have so many people in my life who have spoken about wanting to die. I'm sort of surrounded by it. I'm not even sure where I'm going with this, I don't know, but just yeah, wow. Haven't been able to touch any other record since I got this yesterday. It's seriously something.

 

Lol. I actually meant "what even is that note" in a dumbfounded "how does a human being even hit a note like that" sense, but I do appreciate the music theory.

 

Gorgeous record. Major AOTY contender but that never seemed like it was in contention. She'd somehow already proven herself completely reliable at 21 years old and with only one album under her belt. On top of that, I can't imagine a more natural progression and expansion of what she did on Sprained Ankle.

She is something, that Julien Baker.

 

Your guitar is in tune...in case you still didn't have closure on your tuning situation. :)

Edit: wow I'm behind in this thread. Totally didn't mean to take us back 3 pages haha

 

that part in the middle of Sour Breath where the music drops...

 

that makes sense. they sound like two people very familiar with harmonizing with one another.

 

I still had no clue haha, this guitar was donated to our school years ago and it just sits in here with TERRIBLE action. It's like pressing down on 5 pounds to get a string down haha.

 

I’m gonna need a bit to decompress, but wow

 

That sounds quite painful haha

 

This has been a really rough year for me, especially the last month, so this is killing me.

 

So the Japanese CD has a bonus track of the demo version of Red Door. I need that song.

 

I want Julien Baker to work with Aaron Marsh. That's a dream collab for me.

 

whoa, yes please.

They could just cover each other's songs and it'd be perfect. I want to hear JB do Erase so bad now.

 

And Funeral Pyre!

 

Red Door is such a wonderful song. That guitar riff.

 

blimey, those last lines on Claws In Your Back are a bit bloody good

 

between this and phoebe bridgers i'm never going to be happy again