I first discovered Julien Baker when she sang on Frightened Rabbit's "How It Gets In." Her magnetic voice made me an immediate fan, and when I saw that she had also collaborated with Iron & Wine, I sought out her stellar solo albums -- in addition to her incredible work with boygenius alongside Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus.
She will always be most memorable to me for her covers of Frightened Rabbit's "Modern Leper" and "Holy" (not to mention "Acts of Man," "Nitrous Gas," and "Woodpile") after the death of front man Scott Hutchison. However, her latest album "Little Oblivions" may end up changing that.
Released in late February, the release goes deep into her struggles with substance abuse. Songs like "Ringside," "Hardline," "Relative Fiction," and "Repeat" show her at her best, belting out the pain and joy from deep within her soul.
A more sophisticated backing band adds more layers to her music, but her voice is still -- and always -- the star here. As the global pandemic drags on, this probing and essential music can act as something of a salve for all of us who need it.
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