Saint Cloud (album)
Saint Cloud is the fifth studio album by American indie rock act Waxahatchee, released on March 27, 2020 by Merge Records.[1]
Saint Cloud | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 27, 2020 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Indie rock | |||
Label | Merge | |||
Producer | Brad Cook | |||
Waxahatchee chronology | ||||
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Background
Waxahatchee frontwoman Katie Crutchfield described the album's main themes as "addiction and codependency".[2] Much of Saint Cloud was inspired by her struggles with alcoholism, which came to a fore during the promotional tour for Waxahatchee's Out in the Storm (2017), and subsequent decision to get sober.[2][3]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Album of the Year | 84/100[4] |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.4/10[5] |
Metacritic | 88/100[6] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
And It Don't Stop | A–[8] |
The Guardian | |
The Independent | |
NME | |
The Observer | |
Pitchfork | 8.7/10[13] |
Q | |
Rolling Stone | |
Uncut | 8/10[16] |
Robert Christgau reviewed the album in his Substack-published "Consumer Guide" column in July 2020. While suggesting that the "recovery songs" toward the album's end recount life experiences not relatable for the average listener, he applauded Crutchfield's performance through the opening series of "love/relationship/self-knowledge songs", with "her guitar parts echoing readymades so approximately and unaffectedly they sound fresh all over again, her soft voice so casual and personable and smart".[8]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Katie Crutchfield.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Oxbow" | 2:53 |
2. | "Can't Do Much" | 3:44 |
3. | "Fire" | 3:38 |
4. | "Lilacs" | 3:15 |
5. | "The Eye" | 4:18 |
6. | "Hell" | 3:00 |
7. | "Witches" | 2:48 |
8. | "War" | 3:10 |
9. | "Arkadelphia" | 4:50 |
10. | "Ruby Falls" | 3:50 |
11. | "Saint Cloud" | 4:40 |
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] | 24 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[20] | 7 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 140 |
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[22] | 2 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] | 17 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[24] | 6 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[25] | 19 |
References
- Minsker, Evan (January 22, 2020). "Waxahatchee Announces New Album and Tour, Shares New Song "Fire": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Moreland, Quinn (March 27, 2020). "Waxahatchee Breaks Down Every Song on Her New Album, Saint Cloud". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Martoccio, Angie (January 22, 2020). "Katie Crutchfield's New Morning". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- "Album of the Year Review". Album of the Year. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- "Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- "Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Donelson, Marcy. "Saint Cloud – Waxahatchee". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Christgau, Robert (July 8, 2020). "Consumer Guide: July, 2020". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (March 27, 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud review – the best album of the year so far". The Guardian. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Pollard, Alexandra; Bray, Elisa (March 26, 2020). "Album reviews: Sufjan Stevens, 'Aporia', Waxahatchee, 'Saint Cloud' and Basia Bulat, 'Are You in Love?'". The Independent. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Neale, Matthew (March 23, 2020). "Waxahatchee – 'Saint Cloud' review: Katie Crutchfield embraces her Americana idols with stunning results". NME. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Rogers, Jude (March 29, 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud review – fierce and ambitious but hard to love". The Observer. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Larson, Jeremy D. (March 27, 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Aroesti, Rachel (May 2020). "The Sweet Spot". Q. No. 410. pp. 114–15.
- Shaffer, Claire (March 25, 2020). "Waxahatchee's 'Saint Cloud' Vividly Maps a Healing Path". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Mackay, Emily (May 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud". Uncut. No. 276. p. 34.
- "The Best Albums of 2020 (So Far)". Paste. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- "The 50 Best Albums Of 2020 So Far". Stereogum. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- "Waxahatchee Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- "Waxahatchee Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- "Waxahatchee Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- "Waxahatchee Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- "Waxahatchee Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.