Album Review: Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess
“The Whole New Mess versions are closer and truer to the pain that they were borne out of, and for that reason the songs that are more explicit in their dejection and heartbreak fare the best. “Summer”, here renamed “(Summer Song)”, is one stunning example, the omission of the original’s ice-cool beat allowing more space for the quiver in Olsen’s fragile soul to really be heard. “Tonight (Without You)” is another where Olsen is alone with her guitar, and the simplicity suits the broken-down lonesomeness of the lyrics so perfectly that this is one instance where the stripped-back version actually blocks out the memory of the other.”
Having reviewed Angel Olsen’s last album All Mirrors, it was only right that I reviewed the companion piece Whole New Mess. You can get the verdict over on The Line of Best Fit.
