Sorry Soul

Self-Released

Street: 03.28

Westward the Tide = The National + Ferocious Oaks

If you feel like you’re being seriously deprived of some folk/alt-country, this is your band. Jackson Larsen’s deep singing pairs well with Kaitie Forbes, bringing a refreshing dynamic to the songs that a solo singer couldn’t quite achieve, which is welcomed by me. While the melodies and instrumentation stay pretty simple (take “Sorry Soul,” for example), the minimalism of their work translates into something deeper and more meaningful for a solemn listening experience.

Deeply entrenched in Western themes, both musically and lyrically, Sorry Soul feels a bit redundant compared to the multitude of similar bands of the same caliber. That’s not to say these aren’t solid compositions, and I kind of like where they’re going with it. Instead of lovey-dovey folk music, this is a bit more bleak—apparent in “Devils,” a tune about the monsters within us. –Brinley Froelich