Phoebe Bridgers is a name that was unfamiliar to me until this morning. The powers that be (whether that’s a probably underpaid human or an algorithm, either of which being employed by my streaming service of choice) recommended her new album Stranger in the Alps to me this morning because of my interest in Pinegrove. A comparison to Pinegrove is always enough to warrant at least a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson style eyebrow raise, but it was the album’s artwork that really drew me in. I have never felt as indebted to a streaming service as I do right now.

Stranger in the Alps is full of heartbreak and reeks of influence ranging from Conor Oberst to Julien Baker. These songs never hit more than mid-tempo and the marriage of sharp, stunning lyricism and Bridgers’ ethereal vocals feels otherworldly. I was maybe thirty seconds into the album’s opening track, the sprawling swell of “Smoke Signals,” and I felt very much like the Dizzy Mr. Krabs meme. Influences range from Conor Oberst to Julien Baker, with hints of Haim thrown in for good measure. There’s something about this record that feels like it was meant for the first day of Fall. I’m struggling to come up with more to say about this record because I’m still just so awestruck by its beauty.

There’s something about this record that feels like it was meant for the first day of Fall. I know that in most parts of the country that it certainly still feels like Summer, but Phoebe Bridgers has created the kind of record that’s meant to be listened to in these transitive months. It embraces the cold, sharp edges of Fall and walks you through the beauty of seeing everything that we’ve watched bloom fall apart around you. I feel like I’m struggling to come up with more to say about this record, but that’s only because I’m still just so awestruck by its beauty.

One of my favorite songs from the record is “Funeral.” The track is very bare bones, but there’s something so beautiful about the intimacy on display here. The delicate guitar and Phoebe’s vocals trembling under the emotional weight of the track are enough to move the most stoic to tears. The lyric video for that song can be seen above.

Stranger in the Alps was released on September 22nd via Dead Oceans. Please pick yourself up a copy of this record today. You can do so here. If it means anything to y’all, this record recently received the Hayley Williams stamp of approval. Please, be sure to catch Phoebe Bridgers on tour this Fall.

Upcoming Tour Dates

October 4 New York, NY Baby’s All Right
October 5 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre**
October 6 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre**
October 9 Seattle, WA The Moore Theatre**
October 10 Seattle, WA The Moore Theatre**
October 11 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall**
October 18 Manchester, UK Soup Kitchen
October 19 Glasgow, UK Broadcast
October 23 Cologne, DE Blue Shell #
October 24 Hamburg, DE Hakken #
October 25 Endhoven, NL Oude Rechtbank (DDW Music 2017)
October 28 London, UK Oslo Hackney (London Mirrors)
November 2 Houston, TX The Heights Theater***
November 3 Dallas, TX The Kessler Theater***
November 4 Austin, TX Barracuda***
November 6 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom***
November 8 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre***
November 9 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall***
November 10 Eugene, OR Hi-Fi Music Hall***
November 11 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom***
November 12 Vancouver, BC Imperial***
November 17 Seattle, WA Neptune Theater***