Track of the Day: Sharon Van Etten - "Serpents"

I received notice of a death today. All told it was a day of jubilation where toil ended in mourning. And in sadness and the slow grind toward that eventual end that you feel, because you feel that every death is a reminder of your own, that everyone's connection is in a morbid shared fate we are reminded time after time of fighting against it all, against the serpents, of the hatred that we share of our small time and the hatred when its taken from us.

Sharon Van Etten - "Serpents"

Preorder Tramps here.

Sharon Van Etten’s new album (Tramp, out Feb. 7, 2012 on Jagjaguwar) showcases an artist in full control of her powers, and “Serpents” blares Tramp’s articulated vision. With venomous strength, Sharon’s singing and lyrics attack self-doubt and insecurity, when one feels the initial pangs of a relationship turning away from beauty towards rot. She’s backed by a supporting cast of The National’s Aaron Dessner (slide guitar, bass) and Bryce Dessner (ebo guitar), The Walkmen’s Matt Barrick (drums), Doveman’s Thomas Bartlett (keys), and Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner (vocals). “Serpents” offers only an inkling of the glorious Tramp, an album nuanced in a language of powerful rock, minimal beauty, and pious strength.

SHARON VAN ETTEN TOUR DATES

Tue. Dec. 13 -- New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre w/ The National

Fri. Feb. 10 -- Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's w/ Shearwater

Sat. Feb. 11 -- Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Shearwater

Sun. Feb. 12 -- Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle w/ Shearwater

Tue. Feb. 14 -- Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center w/ Shearwater

Thu. Feb. 16 -- Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall w/ Shearwater

Fri. Feb. 17 -- Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall w/ Shearwater

Sat. Feb. 18 -- Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center w/ Shearwater

Tue. Feb. 21 -- Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace w/ Shearwater

Wed. Feb. 22 -- Montreal, QC @ Il Motore w/ Shearwater

Thu. Feb. 23 -- Boston, MA @ Paradise w/ Shearwater

Fri. Feb. 24 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Shearwater

Sat. Feb. 25 -- New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Shearwater

Thu. March 1 – London, UK @ Cargo

Fri. March 2 – Paris, France @ Point FMR

Sat. March 3 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique – Rotonde

Sun. March 4 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso

Tue. March 6 – Berlin, Germany @ Gruener Salon

Tue. March 20 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Avalon w/ The War On Drugs

Wed. March 21 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Independent w/ The War On Drugs

Fri. March 23 -- Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater w/ The War On Drugs

Sat. March 24 -- Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret w/ The War On Drugs

Sun. March 25 -- Seattle, WA @ The Neptune 

Tue. March 27 -- Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room w/ The War On Drugs

Mon. March 28 -- Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater w/ The War On Drugs

Sat, March 31 -- St. Louis, MO @ Luminary Center for the Arts w/ The War On Drugs

Sun. April 1 -- Bloomington, IN @ Rhino's w/ The War On Drugs