Big Time
Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen’s new record is somewhat stripped down compared to her last few releases. Yes, there are some horn and string arrangements, but on Big Time the conspicuous synths have been replaced with delicate slide guitars, giving the album a bit of a tender country vibe rather than something heavily produced. This bare-bones approach allows the American singer-songwriter’s haunting voice to take centre stage. Written during the time Olsen’s parents passed away, the album features melancholy songs touching on loss (“Ghost On” and “This is How it Works”) but also includes tracks about new love (“Big Time” and “All the Good Times”) reflecting on her coming out as queer and providing some light to the dark. Although a bit mellower, Big Time has Olsen going full circle to her first albums, which possessed a raw vulnerability not shrouded by production.
-Adrian Lysenko
4/5
