Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood. LP [Ltd. Ed. Tigers Blood Clear Red Vinyl]
One of the hardest working singer-songwriters in the game is named Katie Crutchfield. She was born in Alabama, grew up near Waxahatchee Creek. Skipped town and struck out on her own as Waxahatchee. That was over a decade ago. Crutchfield says she never knew the road would lead her here, but after six critically acclaimed albums, sheâs never felt more confident in herself as an artist. While her sound has evolved from lo-fi folk to lush alt-tinged country, her voice has always remained the same. Honest and close, poetic with Southern lilting. Much like Carson McCullersâs Mick Kelly, determined in her desires and convictions, ready to tell whoever will listen.
And after years of being sober and stable in Kansas Cityâafter years of sacrificing herself to her work and the roadâCrutchfield has arrived at her most potent songwriting yet.
Crutchfield says that she wrote most of the songs on âTigers Bloodâ during a âhot hand spell,â while on tour in 2022. And when it came time to record, Crutchfield returned to her trusted producer Brad Cook, who brought her sound to a groundbreaking turning point on 2020âs Saint Cloud.
They hunkered down at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texasâa border town known for cotton and pecansâand searched for another turn, waited for a sign. Initially, MJ Lenderman, Southern indie-rock wunderkind (much like Crutchfield when she started out) came to play electric guitar and sing on âRight Back To It.â But as soon as they tracked it, Cook told Lenderman he had to stay for the rest of the album. And he did.
Here we see Crutchfield emerge as a powerhouse - an ethnologist of the self - forever dedicated to revisiting her wins and losses. But now she's arriving at revelations and she ain't holding them back.
Track Listing
3 Sisters
Evil Spawn
Ice Cold
Right Back To It
Burns Out At Midnight
Bored
Lone Star Lake
Crimes Of The Heart
Crowbar
365
The Wolves
Tigers Blood