Release Date: 12 March 2002
Song Count: 12
Duration: 45 minutes, 32 seconds
Rating: 4.9/10
Description:
Song Count: 12
Duration: 45 minutes, 32 seconds
Rating: 4.9/10
Description:
Incoming is a duo of Atlanta-based folk rock singers and - fitting to the time of year - queer icons Amy Ray and Emily Saliers making up Indigo Girls, here to bring to us a folk rock album from the early 2000s that they released under their joint project. Become You marks the eighth record within the musicians' large catalogue that they have built up since their foundation in the 80's, and is as country in essence as things can get, both tonally and in part narratively. Channelling the timeless features leading the soundscape of traditional American music, it seems that a sort of structure is constructed with a foundation equally as resistant to the winds of time.
Acoustic guitars lead the way for partly slow and flowing, partly energetic and bouncing tracks as Ray and Saliers lend their songwriting and singing talents to be the most prominent connecting thread across the full album. Sonically everything stays within one level, rarely - if ever - wavering from the one particular sound tapestry that is being followed that seeks to invoke the feelings of a highly traditional, passed-down sort of collection of songs. An interesting thing to note here is the structuring and length of the tracks, because though it is largely standard, blunders do exist, such as the track "Bitterroot" ending after only 22 seconds right as it is about to kick into gear - though perhaps this is a problem exclusive to the Spotify version? Who knows.
Country music certainly has an appeal that, when hit in a calculated and intended manner, can make its contents feel like no other with its highly analogue, rich and historic vibrancy yearning for them to be sung around a campfire or the like. That said, Become You experiences the indignity of failing to manage any fraction of the induction of these positive emotions, instead being a listen mostly clouded with lack of interest due to the tracks being overly repetitive and uninspired. Few songs managed to even drag any sort of attention onto themselves and break through the strongly permeating idleness of the bulk of the album, primarily the ones of highest energy, and though Indigo Girls are certainly talented performers, this is far away from the greatest example of this being showcased out into the world. One may have to turn somewhere else for that, since in spite of sounding mild and rarely even pleasant, there is not much worth dedicated time to find.