Sharon Van Etten - 'Tramp' (2012)

Versions:
CD (with Tramp Demos CD)
LP

Tracklisting:
1. Warsaw
2. Give Out
3. Serpents
4. Kevin's
5. Leonard
6. In Line
7. All I Can
8. We Are Fine
9. Magic Chords
10. Ask
11. I'm Wrong
12. Joke Or A Lie

Best Tracks:
Give Out
Serpents
In Line
Leonard

Currently listening to: LP

Sharon Van Etten is, as of mid-2014, my latest obsession.

I hadn't discovered a new artist for some time. Realising this, at the end of 2012, I read through FasterLouder's Top 50 albums of 2012, hoping to discover something new. At #49, was Tramp. I watched the 'Magic Chords' video, and was suitably impressed. Nothing else on FasterLouder's list took my fancy. Though, I kept coming back to 'Magic Chords'. I immediately downloaded the album, and instantly fell in love with it (and don't worry, I happened upon the CD in a store about a week later, and bought it).

Tramp was exactly what I needed. On paper, it ticks all the boxes for what I usually love - a lady with a great voice who sings sad songs about love gone wrong. Such a simple description, however, sells Tramp short. Because, these are really great songs. Sharon Van Etten clearly knows a thing or two when it comes to song-writing. The songs are also delivered with such raw conviction - how could I resist?

Of course, what matters for any great album are the songs. And Tramp is bursting with great songs. If 'Magic Chords' was the loaded gun, then 'Give Out' was the bullet. And, it hit me square in the heart. I can't remember the last time I've been affected by a song quite like this. 'Give Out' is simply beautiful. And, the stunning version she played on Triple J further cemented my love, both for the song and for her. This song has become like my crack since discovering this album. I'm still not sick of it. 'Serpents' is an uneasy (though, rewarding) listen, with it's "black eyes" and "trying to forgive your crimes". Despite their lyrics, songs like 'Leonard', 'All I Can' and 'We Are Fine' feel surprisingly optimistic. When she sings, "Well, I'm bad at loving you" in the chorus of 'Leonard', she sounds likes she quite OK with being bad at loving him. Generally, however, Tramp isn't a cheerful affair. Which, of course, is probably one of the reasons I love it.

I discovered Sharon Van Etten right when I needed her - Tramp felt new, yet happily familiar. I think I'm still in the honeymoon period with this record. I have a feeling, however, that Sharon Van Etten is here to stay - given that I equally love the two records she did before Tramp, and her new one (it's probably bad timing for me to blog Tramp, since I'm currently obsessed with Epic and Are We There). Though, I have had the same feeling before, when I started listening to other artists that have become favourites. I hope I'm right.