Like the River Loves the Sea
Joan Shelley · 2019
38 min · 12 tracks
A delicate interplay of folk melodies and introspective lyrics, evoking serene landscapes and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Coming Down for You — This track features lush instrumentation that complements Shelley's tender vocals, capturing the essence of longing and connection beautifully. Its emotional resonance makes it a standout representation of the album's themes.
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The Fading — With its poignant lyrics and haunting melody, this song explores themes of impermanence and nostalgia, showcasing Shelley's ability to evoke deep feelings through simple yet powerful storytelling.
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High on the Mountain — This track merges traditional folk influences with contemporary sensibilities, illustrating Shelley's skill in blending genres while maintaining an authentic voice. Its reflective nature encapsulates the album's overall mood.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features delicate melodies and introspective lyrics, showcasing strong craftsmanship and cohesion throughout.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a gentle, flowing tempo with layered harmonies and soft instrumentation, creating a serene atmosphere.
- Several songs feature intricate fingerpicking on the guitar, which complements the introspective lyrics and enhances the emotional weight of the music.
- The album closes with a gradual deceleration in tempo, allowing for a reflective finish that contrasts with the more upbeat earlier tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- gentle reflections on nature
- for quiet evenings
- short tracks encourage replaying
- introspective moments of calm
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy anthems
- prefer longer, sprawling albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Like the River Loves the Sea is Joan Shelley's fourth studio album, following her self-titled release in 2017. By this point in her career, Shelley had established herself within the contemporary folk scene, garnering critical acclaim for her introspective songwriting and soft vocal delivery. This album further solidified her position as a significant voice in modern folk music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Margaret Glaspy· Phoebe Bridgers· Sufjan Stevens
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Haven 1:44
- 2 Coming Down for You 3:12
- 3 Teal 4:11
- 4 Cycle 3:50
- 5 When What It Is 2:58
- 6 The Fading 3:10
- 7 The Sway 3:22
- 8 Awake 3:12
- 9 Stay All Night 3:04
- 10 Tell Me Something 2:46
- 11 High on the Mountain 3:49
- 12 Any Day Now 3:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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