COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA: Every day this week leading up to Coachella weekend one, I’ll be reviewing an album from a performer at this year’s festival. At the end of the week, on the first day of the event, I’ll be releasing a review for an album by one of the headliners! Stay tuned to find out who I’m reviewing this week!
About the artist: Ethel Cain is the stage name of Hayden Silas Anhedönia. She is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. Her ambient dream-pop sound tells stories of religious trauma through southern gothic storytelling.
About the album: Preacher’s Daughter is Ethel Cain’s debut studio album, released on May 12th, 2022, through her independent record label, Daughters of Cain. This album tells a story of a troubled teenager, who is a preacher’s daughter, growing up in a small southern town where she encounters conflict with sexuality and religious trauma. Ethel Cain is the fictional character that will be telling the story.
Reviews:
Album cover: I think this album is simple yet beautiful. It captures a beautiful, feminine, country vibe while also being a tad somber and almost creepy. I think this cover perfectly represents the story being told by this album.
This cover is a 9/10!
Songs:
Family Tree (Intro): Ethel’s voice immediately gave me chills. This song has a somber sound with lyrics that cut deep. This is a beautiful opening to this album.
This gorgeous intro gets a 9/10.
American Teenager: This song is slightly more upbeat than the first one, I love the variety. Barack Obama included this song in his favorite songs of 2022, and I can hear why. This song critiques American ideals while displaying Ethel’s stunning vocals and beautiful production.
This is a great song to continue the story that Ethel is telling us. This one is definitely going on my playlists. I give it a 9/10!
A House In Nebraska: This song gave me full-body chills. This one is about Ethel’s dream of fleeing to Nebraska with the love of her life, and she expresses this through gorgeous piano keys and her flawless voice. This song is so beautiful and really pulls at your heart strings.
This one is an easy 10/10.
Western Nights: This song tells a story of both love and violence. This is a very complex song emotionally, and once again, Ethel has done a beautiful job at telling this story. Her voice is so angelic, and this song is so stunning and complex.
I give this one a 9/10. She’s really just that good.
Family Tree: The opening of this track really sets the religious tone for this entire album. Ethel expresses how, though she’s separating herself from her faith, it’ll have an everlasting effect on her. Ethel once again does this through perfect lyrics.
This album is definitely a slower, somber one, different from what I usually enjoy listening to. However, the way Ethel sings and produces is on another level and I can’t help but be entranced by her talents. 9/10.
Hard Times: This song includes sounds of nature throughout, and it gives such a calming, natural vibe that is a complete juxtaposition of the lyrics. This song made me tear up, I can’t lie. It’s so beautiful and the lyrics truly got to me.
This one is a 10/10.
Thoroughfare: The symbolism in this song is so strong. Ethel uses the name ‘Isaiah’ in this song, which is not a coincidence. In the Bible, Isaiah is a prophet, and his name means ‘salvation of the Lord.’
In this track, Isaiah first appears like a savior to Ethel, but as the story continues, he becomes the opposite, leading Ethel to harm. This song adds so much depth to this album, the way she tells the story is beautiful. I just personally wish it had more going on in the background.
I give this one a 9/10!
Gibson Girl: The use of voice effects in this song fits perfectly with the production; it has such an ethereal sound. This song has a dark, sultry feel to it as it describes escaping her strict upbringing, which then falls to exploitation and substance abuse. She attempts to regain control, but in the end feels powerless.
The instrumentals on this song are just so gorgeous as well. I love the lyrics of this song and the overall sound of the track, and the use of the guitar in this song is done so nicely. I’ll give this one a 9/10!
Ptolemaea: The buzzing in the background of this song is meant to sound like flies, adding to the unsettling atmosphere of this track. The use of voice effects truly adds to that unsettling feeling, and I think it is so cool that Ethel would create a track intended to cause discomfort.
This song has such a nightmarish feeling to it, it’s unsettling and creepy but also beautiful. I don’t know how she does it, I love it when music makes me feel something different. I give “Ptolemaea” a 10/10.
August Underground: The use of backing vocals in this track is almost ghost-like, giving a supernatural, unreal feel to this song. In this one, Ethel is confronting death. The haunting feel to this song is meant to represent her descent into darkness.
Ethel is so amazing at making the listener feel the intended emotions when listening to her music. I’m blown away ny her. This one is a 10/10.
Televangelism: First of all, I love how the previous song transitions into this one. This song is about a departure from the physical world, evoking the feeling of an abandoned, empty church. This song lacks lyrics, but is so beautifully produced it’s impossible to ignore.
This one is an 8/10; it really makes you feel something.
Sun Bleached Flies: Ethel’s instrumentals are so beautiful. This song is so immersive and carries themes of mourning and reflection. This song has a more positive sound, with both the instrumentals and lyrics like “If it’s meant to be, then it will be.” This song stands out from the others on this album, but also fits the theme perfectly.
I give “Sun Bleached Flies” a 10/10. I love how it is incorporated into this album.
Strangers: Apparently, Ethel wrote this track in only about ten minutes, but it quickly became her favorite one she’d ever written at the time. This one is so lovely, and a nice, brighter conclusion to this album. This one displays her vocals, lyricism, and ties the whole record together.
This song sounds euphoric, and I love the production on this one and incorporation of the guitar. This is a 10/10.
OVERALL RATING: 9.4/10
Wow, I didn’t realize just how many 9s and 10s I was giving these songs, but they truly earned them. This album tells a deep story, includes beautiful vocals and lyrics, and has incredible production. This entire album is so amazing and very deserving of my highest rating yet.
Copyright & Fair Use Notice: Album artwork is the property of its respective copyright holder and is used here for non-commercial, educational purposes under fair use (17 U.S.C. §107). This review includes commentary and criticism of both the music and the artwork.
Leave a Reply