There’s something desperately lonely about Wye Oak’s 2011 effoort Civilian, from the pensive guitars, moody vocal melodies, and aggressively driven percussion. Lead vocalist Jenn Wasner never lets a good minor key vocal melody go to waste, and her dark indie folk brand of songwriting is as immediately recognizable as it is visceral. The whole thing feels vaguely apocalyptic and delicate all at the same time.
It’s been nearly a decade since I heard this album and I still get chills when that big emotive chorus hits in “Fish”. The juxtaposition to the verse is incredibly striking, and when Wassner utters “Gone gone gone / I’ll come home and raise you up to what’s left” you’re reminded of the power music has in its best moments.
Standout Songs: “Fish”, “Civilian”, “Holy Holy”
