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Editorial Reviews
2010 sophomore album from the singer/songwriter. Sharon Van Etten came to Brooklyn via Jersey via Tennessee via Jersey. Along the way, she sang in choirs, rejected her school's music program, worked at an all-ages venue, trained as a sommelier and got a full time job at a record label. She also had a few bad experiences in relationships. More than a few. Epic lays a romantic melancholy lining over the gravel and dirt of heartbreak, without one honest thought or feeling spared. She sings of betrayal, obsession, egotism and all the other emotions we hate in others and recognize in ourselves. Van Etten's grounded and clenched vocals convey the sense of hope--the notion that beauty can come out of the worst of circumstances. Epic is indeed that beauty.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music
To entitle your sophomore album "Epic" is either a signal of outrageous boastfulness or supreme self confidence borne of the assurance that you have recorded an instant classic to rank with some of the years best albums. To add to this you are yet another female singer songwriter making your contribution when the past 12 months already stands jam packed to the rafters with great music within this genre. Yet bless her Sharon Van Etten has not only pushed herself to the front of the queue but recorded an album which is more than just run of the mill sweet folk melancholy but deals with a level of darkness and vulnerability which tends to put her in a linage stemming as much from Janis Joplin or Martha Wainwright as Joni Mitchell. Indeed "Epic" sounds to these ears to carve a distinct acoustic niche in the same way that say Bon Iver's "For Emma" did a couple of years back, and for example when you listen to songs like the lovely "DsharpG" its intensely difficult to locate its influences or musical pedigree except to recognise its all a bit special. Listen now on National Public Radio and set aside the rest of your music collection for a little while.
Sharon Van Etten lists a huge range of influences on her My Space page and echoes as diverse as Vashti Bunyan, Low, Neil Young, Antony & The Johnsons, Gillian Welch, and the Carpenters abound throughout the album. And guess what, kel surprise, she is from Brooklyn the new talent capital of the world with this record representing a step change on her Espers inspired "Because I was in love". This growth can be demonstrably charted on the epic (sorry) "Don't do it" full of swirling guitars almost reminiscent of the best of the Cocteau Twins with a vocal of sweet dissonance that builds to "Cherry Coloured funk" proportions. The opener "A Crime" alternatively is a song of harsh insecurity where Van Etten confesses that she never intends "to let herself be in love like that again" accompanied by a brutally strummed guitar. The regret continues on the blistering "Peace Signs" one of the albums highlights. Send out a search party and contact the constabulary but make sure you find this austere beauty. Van Etten then goes on to confound us with by following this great song with "Save yourself" a sweet(ish) country rock anthem full of slide guitars which could have happily sat on Cat Power's "The Greatest". In the same vein "One day" is a country waltz with echoes of "Cold Roses" era Ryan Adams and none the worse for it. Finally "Love you more" starts out with what sounds like the sparest of accordions, a "Twin Peaks" slower than slow backdrop and one of the best vocal performances I have heard this year, full of shimmering depth and timbre.
"Epic" is by no means a long album at seven songs barely clocking over 30 minutes but the sounds on this mini album are subversive. They whittle a way into your conciousness and at strange points during your day a melody invades your head or troubles your sleep. From quiet solitude to heartfelt musings "Epic" is a consummate piece of simple art that satisfies your soul. And there you have it; Sharon Van Etten the story begins.....
Sharon Van Etten lists a huge range of influences on her My Space page and echoes as diverse as Vashti Bunyan, Low, Neil Young, Antony & The Johnsons, Gillian Welch, and the Carpenters abound throughout the album. And guess what, kel surprise, she is from Brooklyn the new talent capital of the world with this record representing a step change on her Espers inspired "Because I was in love". This growth can be demonstrably charted on the epic (sorry) "Don't do it" full of swirling guitars almost reminiscent of the best of the Cocteau Twins with a vocal of sweet dissonance that builds to "Cherry Coloured funk" proportions. The opener "A Crime" alternatively is a song of harsh insecurity where Van Etten confesses that she never intends "to let herself be in love like that again" accompanied by a brutally strummed guitar. The regret continues on the blistering "Peace Signs" one of the albums highlights. Send out a search party and contact the constabulary but make sure you find this austere beauty. Van Etten then goes on to confound us with by following this great song with "Save yourself" a sweet(ish) country rock anthem full of slide guitars which could have happily sat on Cat Power's "The Greatest". In the same vein "One day" is a country waltz with echoes of "Cold Roses" era Ryan Adams and none the worse for it. Finally "Love you more" starts out with what sounds like the sparest of accordions, a "Twin Peaks" slower than slow backdrop and one of the best vocal performances I have heard this year, full of shimmering depth and timbre.
"Epic" is by no means a long album at seven songs barely clocking over 30 minutes but the sounds on this mini album are subversive. They whittle a way into your conciousness and at strange points during your day a melody invades your head or troubles your sleep. From quiet solitude to heartfelt musings "Epic" is a consummate piece of simple art that satisfies your soul. And there you have it; Sharon Van Etten the story begins.....
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Virginia
Format:Audio CD
Artist reflects the feelings of the twenty something generation who are searching for love and commitment in a crazy world. In listening to the cd over the past few days, I was touched by the honesty with which Ms. Van Etten explored her past and hoped for a future where she would be sitting by the fire with her soulmate...one day. We should all take a lesson from Ms. Van Etten about being strong, brave, and caring in a world that can be very cruel at times. Not many of us are able to share our feelings with others in a very public forum, I am glad Ms. Van Etten did. I look forward to following her career as she continues to grow as a singer and songwriter.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Sharon Van Etten. She has a way of being wise and cool without pretense. The music is sublime, and great for a rainy day alone. Get it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you like Cat Power and Beth Orten look no further
Sharon has got a great voice and writes great songs. Everything she's done so far is of a high standard and Epic is, albeit quietly, well named. Read more
Published 8 days ago by John H
4.0 out of 5 stars
Epic - Sharon Van Etten
Great album. Adore Sharon Van Etten voice and I believe this was her first album which is even more impressive.
Published 3 months ago by yquemayra
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful album
Sharon Van Etten has the ability (rare these days) to write a memorable song. In a former time, her music would have been played on mainstream radio and attained top 40 status.
Published 5 months ago by Linda M. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flawless CD!
Having listened to Tramp first, then backing up to Because I Was In Love, this CD seems to be a nice middle ground between the two.
Because I Was In Love was a slow CD. Read more
Because I Was In Love was a slow CD. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Soren
5.0 out of 5 stars
Epic
Of her three thus far, this is my favorite Sharon Van Etten album. It's deeply personal, deeply moving, and the tunes are catchy too. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Colin
5.0 out of 5 stars
this is the stuff
Van Etten is honest. It's in her lyrics and in her voice. The record could be the typical singer/songwriter crap, but it transcends. Read more
Published 24 months ago by iknowalot
1.0 out of 5 stars
Quite possibly the worst album ever recorded
I actually read a review of this CD in an Atlanta-based music magazine. They gave it something like 3-1/2 stars out of 4 and talked about how this woman is maturing as an artist... Read more
Published on March 22, 2011 by Mal
