Total Freedom
Kathleen Edwards · 2020
38 min · 10 tracks · folk music
Intimate storytelling unfolds over gentle melodies, blending folk and country influences with a reflective and mature sensibility.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hard on Everyone — This track showcases Edwards’ poignant lyricism and emotional vulnerability, addressing themes of self-reflection and interpersonal struggles with a haunting melody.
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Birds on a Feeder — With its vivid imagery and relatable storytelling, this song encapsulates the album's overall tone of introspection and connection to nature.
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Fools Ride — This track stands out for its catchy refrain and clever wordplay, representing the balance of lightheartedness and depth that defines the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines strong songwriting with polished production, creating an engaging folk experience.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks maintain a steady, reflective tempo, while the fourth introduces a more upbeat rhythm that contrasts with the preceding songs.
- Each song features a prominent acoustic guitar arrangement, often accompanied by subtle string instrumentation that enhances the intimate feel.
- Lyrically, the album employs storytelling techniques that create vivid imagery, with recurring themes of personal reflection and emotional honesty.
- 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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6/10
- 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
- reflective storytelling with intimacy
- gentle melodies for quiet moments
- emotive instrumentation for deep listening
- short tracks for quick engagement
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy experiences
- prefer standalone hits over cohesion
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2020, Total Freedom marks Kathleen Edwards' return after a six-year hiatus, following her previous album, Voyageur. During this time, she had stepped back from music, focusing instead on her café business, which added depth to her creative process upon returning to songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Neko Case· Brandi Carlile· Lucinda Williams
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Glenfern 4:30
- 2 Hard on Everyone 5:32
- 3 Birds on a Feeder 3:13
- 4 Simple Math 4:15
- 5 Options Open 3:48
- 6 Feelings Fade 3:21
- 7 Fools Ride 3:29
- 8 Ashes to Ashes 4:05
- 9 Who Rescued Who 2:23
- 10 Take It With You When You Go 3:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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