Almanac

“Almanac” opens with simply one of the best songs I’ve ever heard- “Perennials”- Widowspeak at their best. Trippy instrumentation so expertly performed by Robert Earl Thomas and that unbelievably ethereal vocal by partner Molly Hamilton whose style is reminiscent of Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval and Miranda Lee Richardson who was once affiliated with The Brian Jonestown Massacre yet definitely remains her own singer. That song sets the bar so high in terms of melody, lyrics, content and atmosphere it would be a marvel if the entire album was that good. For me, not quite that consistent but it’s still a damn fine record for the most part, largely due to the musical chemistry between Molly and Robert, it works.Favorites include “Thick as Thieves”, a dark ballad; “Ballad of the Golden Hour” with some beautiful guitar work laced through it; the sexy rock stomp of “Devil Knows”- Molly’s inflections are so on point. “Locusts” is another highlight with an unusual sound and imaginative arranging that are captivating. The echoing guitars are a nice touch on “Spirit is Willing” which leads to the other essential song on “Almanac”- the majestic, sweeping “Storm King” which ends the album promisingly. With this second album, Widowspeak have proven that they’re here to stay.

Fantastic album. I saw them in Chicago, they're great live too. Vinyl came with a digital download code that didn't work, I shot their bandcamp email a note and Molly got back to me within SECONDS. These two are great all around, pick this up!

My expectations were met and I was very pleased with the product.

I will definitely continue to use this service

Full of resonance and a deftly crafted mood, "Almanac" by Widowspeak evokes (for me) a time of contemplation and stillness. It's excellent if derivative... but I don't say that in a negative way. The world needs more slow burning music of the sort that Mazzy Star made. If Mazzy Star won't make it, Widowspeak will. A+

I love bands like this, but a lot of the songs were just a little TOO bland. I don't see myself purchasing any other albums.

Widowspeak's self-titled debut was one of the most pleasant surprises in recent memory for me, filled with melodic, dreamy 3-minute jangle-pop songs, with Molly Hamilton's drugged-out-yet-angelic voice pulling the helpless listener in almost effortlessly. 'Almanac' expands that sound by adding fuller arrangements and more of a shoegaze-y guitar sound, which makes for an even more absorbing musical journey.Whereas the first album drew many comparisons to Mazzy Star, 'Almanac' moves beyond those similarities for the most part, though Molly's voice still recalls Hope Sandoval's, of course. Widowspeak here seem to draw more from Fleetwood Mac, Americana, and 60's and 70's roots-rock than anything (with an album cover that somehow manages to look like all three), but with hazy atmospherics and bouncing rhythms creating a uniquely warm, tripped-out vibe that's entirely their own.Opener "Perennials" is a perfect example, with intertwining melodies and a hypnotic, fluid rhythm resulting in a near trance-inducing listen. "The Dark Age" features Robert Earl Thomas's excellent lead guitar noodling over a fuzzed-out sheen and Michael Stasiak's propulsive drumming, and to great effect, with the airy lead vocals carrying the listener off into a euphoric state of bliss.Some songs draw from pre-20th century musical history, such as 'Thick As Thieves,' which sounds almost like a sea shanty from the 1800s, while 'Minnewaska' has a strong Appalachian folk vibe. The languid beauty of Molly's vocals and the overall reverb-drenched sound breathes new life into these old musical tropes, making them seem totally fresh and intriguing.Other highlights include the folky, country-ish vibe of the stellar "Ballad of the Golden Hour," which soon morphs into an up-tempo psych track that's one of the album's best, while the atmospheric closer "Storm King" sounds like a hybrid of the Doors' "The End" and Velvet Underground's "Heroin," with a haunting and freaky vibe that, though it ends much too soon imo, serves as a perfect coda to this near-perfect album.'Almanac' shows Widowspeak growing into a fully fleshed-out band with their own unique sound, one that's going to be hard to ignore by music fans for too much longer. All I know is, they're putting out some of the dreamiest, most melodic and blissful music out there today, and I'm just glad to have found them.

Dear Music Appreciators,Kind of a hipster hippie vibe on this one - very cool band name, leaves, rocks, waterfall, clothing, hair, shoes, body language, - based on the album art, I felt like I had to know what the music would sound like.And at first I wasn't that into the music. But as is often the case, I probably wasn't paying very close attention at first and probably wasn't in the most appealing first listen environment. Most albums sound best on headphones for the first listen. Best to get up close and personal with the music, and then open it up to wider and noisier environments like an old used car, where, since you're already a little familiar, you can still recognize the music's qualities even if you can't hear them as well.The music started to grow on me. I started to find much of the guitar work to be catchy and memorable, having sort of a dark and weighty quality to it, and sometimes almost a kind of spacey, cinematic, western feeling. The lyrics took a little longer, and I'm still trying to figure them out, but Molly Hamilton's singing style is reminiscent of other high and dreamy stylists like Isobel Campbell. In fact, listeners who are fond of Isobel Campbell's collaborations with Mark Lanegan may find a lot to like here, with the dark, moody Lanegan vocals replaced by Robert Earl Thomas's dark, moody guitar presence.I especially admired the song "Ballad of the Golden Hour" for its urgency, its lovely and varied guitar work, and its clarity - Hamilton comes out from behind her shy, dreamy style more than anywhere else on the album and it's clear that as a vocalist, when she works more directly with the distinctive and attractive music of Widowspeak, rather than floating dreamily around it, this band easily shifts gears from good to great.Sincerely,Constant Listener