Saint Cloud (album)

Last updated
Saint Cloud
Waxahatchee Saint Cloud.jpg
Studio album by
Waxahatchee
ReleasedMarch 27, 2020 (2020-03-27)
Studio
Genre Indie rock, alt country, Americana
Length40:06
Label Merge
Producer Brad Cook
Waxahatchee chronology
Out in the Storm
(2017)		Saint Cloud
(2020)		 I Walked with You a Ways
(2022)

Saint Cloud is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Waxahatchee, released on March 27, 2020, by Merge Records. [1] Released at the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic, Saint Cloud received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised its depth and mellow sound. Initially unable to tour behind the album, Waxahatchee embarked on a supporting tour in 2021. [2]

Contents

Background

Crutchfield spoke about developing "Fire" after viewing the sunset over the Mississippi while traveling. 1985 Memphis-Arkansas Bridge at sunset - Mississippi River.jpg
Crutchfield spoke about developing "Fire" after viewing the sunset over the Mississippi while traveling.

After many years of touring and releasing albums, Waxahatchee frontwoman Katie Crutchfield came to a point to where she needed a break. She had begun to struggle with alcoholism, which became apparent during the promotional tour for her previous album, Out in the Storm (2017). [5] [6] She made the decision to choose sobriety after hitting a particularly low point at Primavera Sound in Barcelona. [7] [8] In between albums, she released a stopgap EP, Great Thunder, hinting at a burgeoning folk sound. [9]

Saint Cloud was recorded with producer Brad Cook across two studios, Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas and Long Pond in Stuyvesant, New York over the summer of 2019. [10] Crutchfield utilized members of the Michigan band Bonny Doon as her backing band. [11] Crutchfield intentionally took her time developing the album, and found it hard to write initially. When the inspiration came, much of its content was developed at a quick pace. [12] Its lyricism was heavily inspired by the work of Lucinda Williams, [10] and mainly tackles themes of "addiction and codependency". [5] Crutchfield titled the album and its titular song after her father's hometown of St. Cloud, Florida, a small community outside of Orlando. [5]

She wrote the bulk of the songs at her home in Kansas City, where she lived with her partner Kevin Morby. [13] She noted that Morby would give her positive feedback when she shared the material. [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.4/10 [14]
Metacritic 88/100 [15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
And It Don't Stop A− [17]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [18]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [19]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Pitchfork 8.7/10 [22]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Uncut 8/10 [25]

Saint Cloud was released at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., which had an impact on listeners and their interpretation of the album. [12] [7] Chris Riemenschneider, for Minneapolis' Star Tribune , called it "a perfect listening companion through a year and a half of lockdown, as comforting as it was exhilarating." [26]

Saint Cloud was received rapturously by music critics, who praised the album's sincerity and tone. [10] Robert Christgau reviewed the album in his Substack-published "Consumer Guide" column in July 2020. While suggesting that the "recovery songs" toward the album's end recount life experiences not relatable for the average listener, he applauded Crutchfield's performance through the opening series of "love/relationship/self-knowledge songs", with "her guitar parts echoing readymades so approximately and unaffectedly they sound fresh all over again, her soft voice so casual and personable and smart". [17]

Accolades

Accolades for Saint Cloud
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Beats Per Minute Top 50 Albums of 202036 [27]
Consequence of Sound Top 50 Albums of 20206 [28]
Double J Top 50 Albums of 20206 [29]
Exclaim! Top 50 Albums of 2020
18
Gigwise Top 51 Albums of 2020
26
The Line of Best Fit Top 50 Albums of 202012 [32]
NPR The 50 Best Albums of 2020
47
Paste The 50 Best Albums of 2020
2
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2020
2
PopMatters The 60 Best Albums of 20209 [36]
Rolling Stone The 50 Best Albums of 2020
7
The Skinny Top 10 Albums of 20206 [38]
Slant Magazine Top 50 Albums of 202012 [39]
Stereogum Stereogum's 50 Best Albums of 2020 – Mid-Year
2
Under the Radar Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2020
6
Uproxx The Best Albums and Songs of 20207 [42]
The Wild Honey PieTop 30 Albums of 2020
2

Track listing

All tracks are written by Katie Crutchfield and produced by Brad Cook, except where noted

Saint Cloud track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Oxbow"2:53
2."Can't Do Much"3:44
3."Fire"3:38
4."Lilacs"3:15
5."The Eye"4:18
6."Hell"3:00
7."Witches"2:48
8."War"3:10
9."Arkadelphia"4:50
10."Ruby Falls"3:50
11."Saint Cloud"4:40
Total length:40:06
Saint Cloud +3 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Fruits of My Labor" Lucinda Williams
  • Crutchfield
  • Cook
5:05
13."Light of a Clear Blue Morning" Dolly Parton
  • Crutchfield
  • Cook
4:38
14."Streets of Philadelphia" Bruce Springsteen
  • Crutchfield
  • Cook
4:09
Total length:53:58

Personnel

Musicians

Technical personnel

Artwork

Charts

Sales chart performance for Saint Cloud
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [44] 24
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [45] 7
US Billboard 200 [46] 140
US Folk Albums (Billboard) [47] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [48] 17
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [49] 6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [50] 19

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coyote (song)</span> 1977 single by Joni Mitchell

"Coyote" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell from her eighth album Hejira (1976). It was released as the album's lead single.

"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" is a song written and recorded by American entertainer Dolly Parton. The song first appeared on her 1977 New Harvest...First Gathering album, and provided a top twenty country music hit for her as a single. As Parton has told interviewers over the years, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was her "song of deliverance," coming out of the pain from her break with longtime musical and business partner Porter Wagoner. Parton left Wagoner's band in 1974, to aim her career in a more mainstream pop direction; Wagoner responded by taking legal action, and the next couple of years were reportedly painful for both performers. According to the unauthorized 1978 biography, Dolly, by Alanna Nash, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was written as Parton felt the figurative clouds lifting, as the fruits of her sacrifices of the previous few years were becoming apparent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angie (song)</span> Song by The Rolling Stones

"Angie" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, featured on their 1973 album Goats Head Soup. It also served as the lead single on the album, released on 20 August 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waxahatchee</span> American indie music project

Waxahatchee is an American indie music project, formed in 2010 by American singer-songwriter Kathryn Crutchfield, known professionally as Katie Crutchfield, following the breakup of her previous band P.S. Eliot. The band is named after Waxahatchee Creek, in Alabama, where Crutchfield grew up. Originally an acoustic solo project, her recordings now tend to involve a full backing band. As Waxahatchee, she has released six solo studio albums to date: American Weekend (2012), Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), Out in the Storm (2017), Saint Cloud (2020) and Tigers Blood (2024), which was nominated for the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Americana Album. Away from Waxahatchee, Crutchfield was also a member of alternative country duo Plains alongside Jess Williamson.

<i>Cerulean Salt</i> 2013 studio album by Waxahatchee

Cerulean Salt is the second studio album by American indie musician Waxahatchee, released on March 5, 2013, on Don Giovanni Records. Co-produced by Swearin' members, Kyle Gilbride and Keith Spencer, the album was recorded in primary recording artist Katie Crutchfield's basement.

<i>Ivy Tripp</i> 2015 studio album by Waxahatchee

Ivy Tripp is the third studio album by American indie musician Waxahatchee, released on April 7, 2015, on Merge Records domestically, and Wichita Recordings internationally. Katie Crutchfield produced the album with Kyle Gilbride and Keith Spencer.

<i>Out in the Storm</i> 2017 studio album by Waxahatchee

Out in the Storm is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Waxahatchee, released on July 14, 2017 through Merge. It features her sister Allison Crutchfield on keyboards and percussion, as well as Katie Harkin, Katherine Simonetti, and Ashley Arnwine. Dinosaur Jr./Sonic Youth producer John Agnello recorded the album live. The album was released digitally, on vinyl and compact disc.

<i>Heard It in a Past Life</i> 2019 studio album by Maggie Rogers

Heard It in a Past Life is the debut studio album by American indie pop singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, released on January 18, 2019, by Debay Sounds and Capitol Records. With help from its hit single "Light On" (2018), the album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and received mostly positive reviews from critics, eventually earning Rogers a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.

<i>Thats How Rumors Get Started</i> 2020 studio album by Margo Price

That's How Rumors Get Started is the third studio album by American country musician Margo Price. The album was planned for release on May 8, 2020, by Loma Vista Recordings, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was produced by Sturgill Simpson, with David R. Ferguson and Price serving as co-producers on the album with Simpson. The album was released on July 10, 2020. On April 22, 2022, a deluxe version of the album was released with 8 bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caution (The Killers song)</span> 2020 single by the Killers

"Caution" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage (2020). It was released on March 12, 2020, as the lead single from the album, and features a guitar solo by former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. The track topped the Billboard Rock Airplay and Alternative Airplay charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyoto (Phoebe Bridgers song)</span> 2020 single by Phoebe Bridgers

"Kyoto" is a song by American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. It was released on April 9, 2020 as the second single from her second studio album, Punisher (2020). Rolling Stone, Billboard, Paste, Variety, Consequence of Sound, and The Line of Best Fit all ranked the song among the best of 2020, the latter placing the song atop its list. At the 2021 Grammy Awards, "Kyoto" was nominated for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.

<i>Sundowner</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Kevin Morby

Sundowner is the sixth studio album by American indie rock musician Kevin Morby, released on October 16, 2020, on Dead Oceans.

<i>Songs</i> and <i>Instrumentals</i> 2020 studio albums by Adrianne Lenker

Songs and Instrumentals are two studio albums by Adrianne Lenker, both released by 4AD on October 23, 2020. They are her fourth and fifth solo albums, respectively.

"Happier" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, seen as the eighth track on Rodrigo's debut studio album Sour (2021), which was released on May 21, 2021, through Geffen Records. The song was produced by Dan Nigro. According to Rodrigo, this song was inspired by the song ''Perfect'' by Ed Sheeran in both the lyrics and the instrumental track.

"Traitor" is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. It was released to US mainstream radio on August 10, 2021, through Geffen Records, as the fourth single from Rodrigo's debut album, Sour (2021). An indie pop and guitar-rock ballad, the song was written by Rodrigo and Dan Nigro, and produced by the latter.

<i>Home Video</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Lucy Dacus

Home Video is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus. It was released on June 25, 2021, via Matador. It was promoted by the singles "Thumbs", "Hot & Heavy", "VBS", "Brando", and "Going Going Gone". The album received critical acclaim and placed on many critics' year-end lists.

<i>Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971)</i> 2021 compilation box set

Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971) is a five-disc box set by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on November 12, 2021, by Rhino Records. The box set is the seventh overall release and second offering of unreleased material from the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned series of releases containing remastered material from the singer's personal archives. Formatted in chronological order, the second volume of the series consists of the archived material that was recorded during Mitchell's tenure at Reprise Records, which includes the years between the release of her debut studio album, Song to a Seagull (1968) and her fourth studio album, Blue (1971).

"Would've, Could've, Should've" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is a bonus track originally released as part of the 3am Edition of her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Written and produced by Swift and Aaron Dessner, it is a new wave-leaning soft rock song about a narrator's rumination of a flawed, age-inappropriate romantic relationship in the past.

<i>Tigers Blood</i> 2024 studio album by Waxahatchee

Tigers Blood is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Waxahatchee. It was released on March 22, 2024, through Anti-. It was preceded by the release of three singles, "Right Back to It", "Bored", and "365". The album received acclaim from critics, and garnered Waxahatchee a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album, her first nomination at the awards.

"Right Back to It" is a song by American indie rock singer-songwriter Waxahatchee. It was released on January 9, 2024, as the lead single from her sixth studio album Tigers Blood. The song features guest vocals from MJ Lenderman.

References

  1. ↑ Minsker, Evan (January 22, 2020). "Waxahatchee Announces New Album and Tour, Shares New Song "Fire": Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  2. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (April 14, 2021). "Waxahatchee Maps 2021 'Saint Cloud' Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  3. ↑ Rettig, James (January 22, 2020). ""Fire"". Stereogum. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Waxahatchee Talks 'Saint Cloud' & Approaching Music From A Healthier Place". GRAMMY.com. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Moreland, Quinn (March 27, 2020). "Waxahatchee Breaks Down Every Song on Her New Album, Saint Cloud". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  6. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (January 22, 2020). "Katie Crutchfield's New Morning". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Tolentino, Jia (July 7, 2020). "The Unexpected Sunlight of Waxahatchee's "Saint Cloud"". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  8. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (January 22, 2020). "Katie Crutchfield's New Morning". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield revisits her Great Thunder project on new EP". WXPN. July 17, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Martin, Mackenzie; Kraske, Steve (June 10, 2021). "Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield Eases Into Sobriety And Kansas City". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan (May 26, 2023). "The Radically Chill World of Bonny Doon". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Lindquist, Dave; Orr, Susan (July 28, 2022). "Waxahatchee sees silver lining in pandemic timeline of 'Saint Cloud'". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  13. ↑ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (January 28, 2021). "Waxahatchee on 'Saint Cloud,' Sobriety, and Hope for the Future". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  16. ↑ Donelson, Marcy. "Saint Cloud – Waxahatchee". AllMusic . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  17. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (July 8, 2020). "Consumer Guide: July, 2020" . And It Don't Stop. Substack . Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  18. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (March 27, 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud review – the best album of the year so far". The Guardian . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  19. ↑ Pollard, Alexandra; Bray, Elisa (March 26, 2020). "Album reviews: Sufjan Stevens, 'Aporia', Waxahatchee, 'Saint Cloud' and Basia Bulat, 'Are You in Love?'". The Independent . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  20. ↑ Neale, Matthew (March 23, 2020). "Waxahatchee – 'Saint Cloud' review: Katie Crutchfield embraces her Americana idols with stunning results". NME . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  21. ↑ Rogers, Jude (March 29, 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud review – fierce and ambitious but hard to love". The Observer . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  22. ↑ Larson, Jeremy D. (March 27, 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  23. ↑ Aroesti, Rachel (May 2020). "The Sweet Spot". Q . No. 410. pp. 114–15.
  24. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (March 25, 2020). "Waxahatchee's 'Saint Cloud' Vividly Maps a Healing Path". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  25. ↑ Mackay, Emily (May 2020). "Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud". Uncut . No. 276. p. 34.
  26. ↑ Riemenschneider, Chris (September 13, 2021). "A year late, Waxahatchee shines a clear light on golden album at First Ave". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  27. ↑ Hakimian, Rob (December 9, 2020). "BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2020". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Top 50 Albums of 2020". Consequence of Sound . 2020-12-01. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  29. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Double J . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2020". Exclaim! . December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Gigwise's 51 Best Albums of 2020". Gigwise . December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  32. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2020". The Line of Best Fit . December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  33. ↑ Walker, Jerad (December 2, 2020). "The Best Albums of 2020". NPR. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  34. ↑ Johnson, Ellen (November 30, 2020). "The Best Albums of 2020". Paste . Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  35. ↑ Moreland, Quinn (December 8, 2020). "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  36. ↑ "The 60 Best Albums of 2020". PopMatters . December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  37. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan; Blake, Emily; Blistein, Jon; Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Ehrlick, Brenna; Freeman, Jon; Grow, Kory; Hoard, Christian; Hudak, Joseph; Leight, Elias; Martoccio, Angie; Shaffer, Claire; Sheffield, Rob; Shteamer, Hank; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (December 4, 2020). "Best Albums of 2020". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  38. ↑ "The Skinny's Favourite Albums of 2020". The Skinny . November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  39. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Slant Magazine . December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  40. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2020 So Far". Stereogum . June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2020". Under the Radar . January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  42. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2020". Uproxx . December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  43. ↑ Snyder, Kyle (December 9, 2020). "Top 30 Albums of 2020". The Wild Honey Pie. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Waxahatchee Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Waxahatchee Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Waxahatchee Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Waxahatchee Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Waxahatchee Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.