Album Review: Waxahatchee - American Weekend

Ah the sound of an old record spinning, the fuzz of the old-timey glow of outdated systems that today seem so appealing despite our technological advances. The ambience of one-woman-band Waxahatchee screams of this nostalgia trip and polishes it with Katie Crutchfield’s vocal and acoustic prowess, nurturing silence until it grows into a relaxing length of audio that still manages to keep the noise level whirring.

For a good sample of Waxahatchee, there is a fine sample in the title-track for this record. "American Weekend" is a haunting lullaby that’s simple chords and vocal style are somewhat akin to Kurt Cobain’s much missed vein of song writing. It misses the oomph most expect from a chorus but it more than makes up for it with its slow pace and a vibe that wallows patiently in the melancholy.

And for the complete opposite, turn your ears towards the White Stripes-esque "Luminary Blake", where the brooding vocal style is traded for a higher pitch and a warble that, along with the steady and minimalist rhythm does wander into Jack White’s territory throughout, a trait that certainly does not do this song any harm.

To finish the trifecta of album highlights here we move on to the sweet and soft musings of second to last track, "I Think I Love You." From the name alone the mood is set but this song is certainly more elegantly written than most songs brandishing similar names, and the gentle strum of Waxahatchee’s acoustic guitar against the near-whisper of the vocals is enough to seduce your ears.

4/5

"American Weekend" is out now through Don Giovanni Records.

Edward Strickson