Concept albums are largely hit and miss.  They either hit the mark, or miss that target completely.  When I heard there was an album based around a woman being left at the altar due to her would be husband perishing in an accident prior to the wedding, I was skeptical.  However, the sorrow and beauty that encompass this album won me over quickly.

Starting with the startling/ starkly beautiful opening track “I Do” you know that you are in for a heavy, trip.  The tone is reminiscent of the great singer-songwriter Julien Baker who hits you on a similar emotional level, in a completely different musical fashion.  The grieving process starts with “In God’s House” where she exclaims “My baby’s hand is on the wheel.. What’s That I see…… Fire”.  Lyrics like this directly take on the impetus of the album.  The rest of the album serves as a band aid, glossing over the loss, without ever really offering a healing solution.

The tone of the album shifts beautifully with the music.  The song titles and lyrics may be rough, but tracks like “Sunday Love” feature a danceable groove that offer a ray of light amidst the heavy subject material the album grapples with.  One of the highlights of the album is the arc it takes, mirroring the true emotions people endure upon unexpectedly losing a loved one. “Never Forgive the Angels” is a great testament to the genuine anger people feel when they lose a loved one.  It is the musical personification of controlled rage/ grief.

The shift of emotions on the album continues with the spoken word “Widow’s Peak”, further evoking a feeling of loss and despair in regards to a love once strong that was cut prematurely short. “Lands End” further conjures the feeling of someone trying to capture the glorious lost moments of a bygone time.

If there is a single ray of sunshine in this album it is through the track “I Will Love Again”, upon which our protagonist claims that she will overcome the sorrow she feels to love once again.  It offers as a beautiful follow up to the prior track “If I Knew”, which serves as an ode to a love that was lost prematurely.  Concept albums are hit/miss.  This is one that will pull you into the story and stay with you for years to come.

Best Tracks: “I Do”  “Sunday Love”

By Nathan K.