In the week where Bob Dylan drops a brilliant, critically-acclaimed record, it feels strange to pick anything else. However, American indie-rock singer/songwriter, Phoebe Bridgers, might have just dropped the best album of the year.
We absolutely loved Phoebe’s debut album, ‘Stranger in the Alps’, which is one of the best debut records of the 21st century. In the time between that album and this one, she’s experimented in brilliant side projects boygenius (with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus) and Better Oblivion Community Center (with Conor Oberst). We have been intrigued to see what she would come up with next.
‘Punisher’ delivers on every level. Fans of the candid, beautiful writing from her debut are in for a treat as she delivers more of the same but better (how?!). There’s an added confidence in the instrumentation and production as she takes in different sounds, possibly as a result of her time in those other side projects.
She was due to support The 1975 on a huge tour which would have boosted her inevitable journey to superstar but this has unfortunately been put on hold for now. At least we’ve got this marvellous record to enjoy. Check out the excellent ‘Kyoto’ below.
