The country renaissance isn’t over just yet! After teasing a collaboration with their emotion-laden single Sylvia, Torres (the musical project of Mackenzie Scott) and Julien Baker’s album Send a Prayer My Way marks their soulful entry into the genre. The 12 track album traverses downtown bars and the wide open road as the pair croon about past loves, beloved pets and wistful what-could-have-been’s.
Send A Prayer My Way reveals Torres and Baker as kindred spirits. They share a gift for vulnerable, poignant lyricism and have similar reflections on their experiences growing up queer in America’s South.
While many artists have been dipping their toes into country as of late, this feels like a natural next step for both Baker and Torres. Their knack for honest, vivid storytelling lends itself perfectly to the genre, as do their swirling harmonies.
Album opener Dirt brims with mellow musings on past decisions and regrets. Poignant lyrics such as “now I’m laid out on the sidewalk, you’re my first dial after last call” and “spend your whole life getting clean, just to wind up in the dirt” paint a weary story of falling off the wagon and struggling to get back on.
A playful mood is struck in The Only Marble I’ve Got Left, which sets the pace for the rest of the album. It’s confident, defiant, and witty, establishing a tone which is sustained into Sugar in the Tank, a gorgeous song that celebrates the messiness of love.
A standout track is Tuesday, which sees the duo reflect on a past lover (Tuesday) with wisdom and raw emotion. It also serves as an open letter to Tuesday’s pearl-clutching mother. Channelling the spirit of a fearless outlaw, the lyrics dance between darkness and punchy one-liners, best exemplified in closer “if you hear this song, tell your mama she can go suck an egg.”
Full of free-spirited yearning, the lyrics of Sylvia disguise themselves as the apologies of a distant lover. However, the ballad is really an ode to Torres’ adopted dog, who was originally meant to only be a foster. Lines such as “a day for me is a week for you” and “what’s it even mean to have everything if I can’t share it with my girl?” aren’t metaphoric. Any pet owner will understand them deeply.
In the aptly named album closer Goodbye Baby, the duo soak in the comfort of a safe, loving relationship. It’s a contented breath of relief, seen in lyrics such as “for the first time in years, through the night I could sleep, just remembering that she’s coming home to me.” It’s the perfect way to wrap up the album, the sonic equivalent of putting your feet up and cracking a beer at the end of the day.
Defiant, compelling, and laced with just enough twang, Send A Prayer My Way is a brilliant exploration of identity, longing, and the country genre itself. Each track showcases both Torres and Julien Baker’s individual artistry, while also letting them cut loose and push their musical boundaries.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Send A Prayer My Way is out April 18th through Matador/Remote Control Records. Pre-order/pre-save it HERE.
Header photo credit: Ebru Yildiz
