Waxahatchee
Tigers Blood
**** out of *****
On her breakthrough album, 2020's Saint Cloud, Katie Crutchfield embraced a more natural Americana sound for her songwriting to shine through. That style continues on Waxahatchee's newest release Tigers Blood, which is a confident mix of light rockers, pop-ish offerings and twangy strolls through stories and struggles.
Working again with producer/multi-instrumentalist Brad Cook (Hurray For The Riff Raff, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats) a light 90's alt-country sound is the backbone of the solid record that has pop and folk flourishes.
Tigers Blood starts with "3 Sisters" a unique track that begins as a rich piano ballad showcasing Crutchfield's gorgeous vocals before a snare roll kicks up to a midtempo rocker to finish. That sense of 'anything can happen' within Waxahatchee's tunes is one of the main enjoyable features throughout the album as Crutchfield seems to be writing with freedom.
A pair of light alt-country rockers, the banging/ringing "Evil Spawn" and the yearning vocals of "Ice Cold" are both stout while Phil Cook's harmonica and weeping guitars support a marching drum beat on the confident "Burns Out at Midnight". While the brothers Cook are critical to the albums overall sound, it is guest MJ Lenderman who provides the biggest boost to Crutchfield.
Lending his easy flowing electric guitar throughout the album Lenderman supports the tunes excellently while also contributing on point harmony vocals. The best effort of the bunch is the duet between Lenderman and Crutchfield, "Right Back to It". The flowing number uses a robust bass line and banjos while vocals soar, twist, turn, and dance with grace and fluidity creating a smooth and engaging track.
Crutchfield also has a knack for catchy, bordering on pop, sensibilities that she dips into on the second half of the album as the four song run of "Lone Star Lake", "Crimes of the Heart", "Crowbar" and "365" all find Katie delivering unique vocals that can flutter or be direct and inspired by hip-hop. These will not be mistaken for club bangers, as she uses sparse folk inspired instrumentation to keep things unique, but there is a clear sense she is singing more for the masses.
The album closes with the waltzing title track as the background vocals meet Crutchfield's big voice and wrap up a very confident album on a high note. Waxahatchee's Tigers Blood keeps the wining vibe alive for Crutchfield and company.
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