Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood review

It’s not scientific, but it feels like a widely recognised fact that living in domestic bliss isn’t usually a precursor for writing songs with gravity. Now ensconced in a long term relationship with fellow artist Kevin Morby, Katie Crutchfield has publicly voiced much the same opinion, but has equally refused to apologise on the other hand for always writing in the moment at which her personal life is at.

Tigers Blood follows on from 2020’s breakout Saint Cloud, a record which broke Waxahatchee to an audience that the singer believes roughly doubled in size as a result. In form however it represents a noticeable shift towards country, with the occasional appearances of gentle slide and banjo, but the reveresed patterns are subtle and embelish some charming new material.

That’s not to say there wasn’t some experimentation on the journey, with one of the album’s centrepieces 365 starting out at first in synth pop framing, but comfortable in more familiar skin Ice Cold, Evil Spawn and especially Right Back To It underline that a happy Katie Crutchfield lacks no purpose compared to the artist of a chequered past. Tigers Blood is the sound of somebody carving their initials in a tree – and shoudl stand the test of time as a result.

You can read a full review here.