Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory can be most easily defined by one word: electrifying. The album marks a new era in Van Etten’s discography, as it is a sonically evolved version of her signature alt-rock style. The band’s name itself–The Attachment Theory–can be deemed as a heavy nod to a myriad of recurring psychological themes that are prevalent throughout the album. Upon first pressing ‘play,’ listeners are immediately thrown into Van Etten’s universe of introspection and self-discovery, defined by an 80’s style synth brought to you by Teeny Lieberson. When combined with Sharon Van Etten’s haunting vocals, the album itself transforms into an entirely new gothic sound that sets this record apart from anything Van Etten has released to date.
Lyrically, listeners can expect to explore psychological themes that cause them to embark on their own journey of self-reflection of topics such as mortality, identity, and emotional resilience. Throughout the fourth track–”Trouble”–Van Etten depicts the internal war of coexisting with others that have different views, and the battles of staying quiet about beliefs to salvage relationships. The complexity of introspection and psychological concepts leaves the listener in a state of catharsis–which can only be deemed as utterly brilliant.
Sharon Van Etten has openly discussed the influence of motherhood on her songwriting. In “I Can’t Imagine (Why You Feel This Way,)” Van Etten explores feelings of generational trauma–and what it means to reflect the complexity of relentlessly trying to understand another’s emotions. Each individual track on the album delves into a distinct interpersonal struggle, yet the combination of Van Etten’s captivating vocals and The Attachment Theory’s dynamic instrumentals manage to connect each song into a cohesive, immersive experience for listeners. Upon finishing Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, listeners will be left wanting to start the opening track–”Live Forever”–all over again to ask themselves the question; “who wants to live forever?” Spoiler alert: it doesn’t matter.
Rating: 5/5
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