Ian Sweet — ‘Show Me How You Disappear’
THE GOOD: Ian Sweet (actually singer/songwriter Jilian Medford) releases her third.
THE BAD: At first, “Disappear” seems more about a vibe and less about individual songs. After a few spins, the songs really take hold.
THE NITTY GRITTY: Medford started Ian Sweet as a college DIY project. It later became a proper band but only for a little while. “Disappear” finds Medford solo again but working with a handful of experienced producers — people such as Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief), Andy Seltzer (Chelsea Cutler) and production duo Deadmen.
Outside collaborators help bring the songs to life, but this is Medford expanding her own musical horizons. “Disappear” is her most accomplished work yet, launching with the opening bang of “My Favorite Cloud.” Soon, it’s about endless tempo shifts and mood swings with the singer taking us to places both bleak and bright. From the weird echoes soaking “Drink the Lake” to the pure pop momentum carrying “Power,” the album proves Medford’s music is multi-faceted and truly engaging.
BUY IT?: Yes.
Girl in Red — ‘If I Could Make It Go Quiet’
THE GOOD: After experimenting on a pair of EPs, Norwegian indie singer/songwriter Marie Ulven (stage name Girl in Red) releases her proper debut LP.
THE BAD: Ulven is finding her footing. “Quiet” is the first major production of her career, so don’t expect perfection.
THE NITTY GRITTY: Ulven first made waves across the internet when she uploaded the bedroom recording “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend.” All of a sudden, young, anxious, gay girls had a new voice. Her fan base grew, and it was time to do things properly.
This is still Ulven’s show; she wrote and co-produced every track. She gives us a punk attitude smoothed over by delicate, danceable rhythms and a smattering of underground R&B. Now 22, she still deals with some angst, but things are getting better. “Quiet” also finds her opening up, exploring personal relationships and taking us along for the ride. It’s hard to resist punchy, melodic bits such as “Serotonin,” “Hornylovesickness” and “I’ll Call You Mine.”
BUY IT?: Sure.
Lucy Dacus — ‘Home Video’
THE GOOD: Singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus looks back on a conflicted youth throughout her third album.
THE BAD: Not really.
THE NITTY GRITTY: Dacus explores questioning her sexuality while growing up in a Christian household in Virginia. Adolescence had to be confusing, but it gave the singer lots of stories to tell. She remembers and re-evaluates everything from summer youth camps to first crushes to skipping school for afternoons at the movies. Yet, Dacus is comfortable with her past and ready to take on those who helped shape it without passing judgment. She simply wants everything out in the open.
“You called me cerebral/I didn’t know what you meant/But now I do/Would it have killed you to call me pretty instead?” That’s eighth-grade pain. “Home Video” is loaded with such vignettes. Musically, the record is Dacus’ tightest and most accessible to date. The songs are catchy, bittersweet and forceful when they need to be — a real indie pop triumph. What could be a downer ends up rather upbeat and enjoyable.
BUY IT?: Definitely.
Mike Evans is the author of Sounds and is a super cool radio guy who doesn’t mess around when it comes to music. Contact: mevans@shamrocknepa.com
