Julien Baker – Sprained Ankle

Review

Alright, folks, let’s talk about “Sprained Ankle,” the first album by Julien Baker. It came out in 2015 and stirred up quite a storm in the indie folk world with its bare-bones style. This album’s all about digging into them heavy topics like faith, personal struggles, and figuring oneself out. Julien’s got a rare voice that feels like it’s reaching straight into your heart. It's full of vulnerability but mighty compelling at the same time.

Now, what’s real interesting here is how Julien keeps it quite minimal—mostly just her and her trusty guitar, with a few extra sounds thrown in sparingly. This lets her lyrics, all thoughtful and chock-full of meaning, really stand out. She touches on themes like addiction and spirituality. Songs like "Brittle Boned" blend melancholy with quiet hope, striking a chord for a lot of folks out there.

Listening to “Sprained Ankle” feels like settling into a good ol’ chat with a friend who’s spilling her heart out. They say simplicity can move mountains, and that rings true here—this album hits home with genuine emotions and rich storytelling. It sure set Julien Baker up as a songwriter worth keeping an eye on. - Mia