We've Been Going About This All Wrong
Sharon Van Etten · 2022
39 min · 10 tracks · pop music
Sharon Van Etten weaves introspective lyrics with haunting melodies and a blend of folk and pop sensibilities.
Top tracks — play these first
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Darkness Fades Start here — Opening the album with a sense of vulnerability, this track sets the tone for the introspective journey that follows, balancing soft instrumentation with powerful vocals.
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Come Back — This song stands out for its raw emotion and poignant exploration of longing, encapsulating the themes of regret and reconciliation that permeate the album.
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Mistakes — A reflection on personal accountability, this track's melancholic melody pairs beautifully with reflective lyrics that urge listeners to confront their past choices.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production choices but lacks a fully cohesive flow.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow build in 'Darkness Fades', layering vocals and instrumentation gradually over its first three minutes.
- Several tracks feature a prominent use of reverb, creating an ethereal quality that enhances the introspective lyrics.
- The last two tracks, 'Mistakes' and 'Far Away', shift to a more subdued tone, contrasting with the more dynamic earlier songs.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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 emotional exploration throughout
- haunting yet uplifting moments
- introspective themes for reflection
- consistent flow for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Showcases Van Etten's growth and received significant critical acclaim.
- Career context
- Released in 2022, We've Been Going About This All Wrong is Sharon Van Etten's fifth studio album, following her acclaimed 2019 release, Remind Me Tomorrow. At this point in her career, Van Etten had established herself as a significant voice in indie music, known for her poetic songwriting and emotional delivery, which she further explores on this album.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Julien Baker· Phoebe Bridgers· Lucy Dacus
Tracklist
- 1 Darkness Fades Start here 4:33
- 2 Home to Me 3:38
- 3 I’ll Try 3:07
- 4 Anything 2:38
- 5 Born 5:02
- 6 Headspace 4:26
- 7 Come Back 4:29
- 8 Darkish 4:04
- 9 Mistakes 3:59
- 10 Far Away 3:19
What to play next
Remind Me Tomorrow
2019
Continues the introspective themes with a modern soundscape.
Are We There
2014
Sets the emotional groundwork for the reflective nature of the current album.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Turn Out the Lights
Julien Baker
Explores themes of vulnerability and introspection with haunting melodies and sparse production.
Punisher
Phoebe Bridgers
Shares a similar blend of emotional honesty and atmospheric instrumentation, focusing on personal narratives.
All Mirrors
Angel Olsen
Combines lush arrangements with deep lyrical exploration of longing and self-reflection.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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