Released 20 years ago
Springtime Can Kill You
Jolie Holland · 2006
43 min · 12 tracks · country music
A haunting blend of folk and country that juxtaposes melancholic lyrics with lush, atmospheric instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Springtime Can Kill You — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of transience and heartache through its poignant storytelling and evocative imagery.
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Crush in the Ghetto — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its raw emotionality and vivid snapshots of urban life, showcasing Holland's narrative prowess.
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Ghostly Girl — With its haunting melody and introspective lyrics, this track highlights Holland's ability to blend personal struggle with broader existential themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends folk and country with haunting vocals and strong lyrical themes, creating a distinctive sound.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a slow, reflective pace with sparse instrumentation before the fourth track introduces a more rhythmic, upbeat tempo.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a haunting atmosphere, particularly in 'Mehitabel's Blues' and 'Ghostly Girl'.
- The album frequently shifts between major and minor tonalities, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- 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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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
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
- wave-like pacing with emotional shifts
- haunting melodies for introspective moments
- raw storytelling that invites reflection
- for late-night solitude
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer upbeat party atmospheres
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2006, Springtime Can Kill You is Jolie Holland's third studio album, following her critically acclaimed debut, Catalpa. At this point in her career, Holland was carving out a distinctive niche within the indie folk scene, marked by her unique vocal style and eclectic influences that drew from traditional American music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Neko Case· Lucinda Williams· Iron & Wine
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Mehitabel's Blues
The moment shifts from nostalgic reflection to a stark confrontation with reality, illustrating a deep sense of longing amidst disillusionment.
This transition enhances the emotional weight of the song, as it contrasts idealized memories with harsher truths, revealing Holland's complex character exploration.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Crush in the Ghetto 3:01
- 2 Mehitabel's Blues 3:21
- 3 Springtime Can Kill You 2:48
- 4 Crazy Dreams 2:22
- 5 You're Not Satisfied 2:09
- 6 Stubborn Beast 4:06
- 7 Please Don't 2:29
- 8 Moonshiner 3:32
- 9 Ghostly Girl 3:34
- 10 Nothing to Do but Dream 7:24
- 11 Adieu False Heart 2:36
- 12 Mexican Blue 6:29
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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