Saint Cloud
Waxahatchee · 2020
40 min · 11 tracks · alternative rock
Intimate melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, creating a warm yet haunting atmosphere that evokes a sense of personal reckoning.
Top tracks — play these first
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Fire — This track vividly captures the struggle between yearning and acceptance, offering an emotional pivot point that encapsulates the album's overarching themes of healing.
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Lilacs — With its lush instrumentation and poignant lyrics, this song exemplifies the album's reflective tone, showcasing Crutchfield's mastery in weaving personal stories into universal experiences.
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St. Cloud — The closing title track serves as a culmination of the album's journey, balancing nostalgia with hope, while providing a serene resolution to the preceding emotional landscape.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's introspective songwriting and intimate arrangements create a compelling yet accessible experience.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces slower, more contemplative tracks.
- The lyrics frequently explore themes of personal growth and reflection, with a narrative style that invites listener engagement.
- 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
- steady melodic introspection
- morning coffee contemplation
- gentle emotional exploration
- consistent pacing for reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on March 27, 2020, Saint Cloud marked a pivotal moment in Waxahatchee's career, following the more aggressive sound of her previous album, Out in the Storm. This record is often seen as a shift towards a more introspective and folk-influenced approach, showcasing Katie Crutchfield's evolution as a songwriter and her exploration of themes like recovery and self-discovery.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Phoebe Bridgers· Margaret Glaspy· Julien Baker
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Ruby Falls
The narrative shifts from personal reflection to acknowledging external relationships, blending memories with present realizations.
This transition deepens the storytelling by connecting intimate feelings with broader life experiences, illustrating how past connections influence current identity.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Oxbow 2:53
- 2 Can’t Do Much 3:44
- 3 Fire 3:37
- 4 Lilacs 3:16
- 5 The Eye 4:18
- 6 Hell 2:59
- 7 Witches 2:49
- 8 War 3:10
- 9 Arkadelphia 4:51
- 10 Ruby Falls 3:51
- 11 St. Cloud 4:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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