By: Ben Salvo
Rating: 8/11

In the first few moments of a first listen, Sharon Van Etten may seem like a simple placeholder in that long line of folk singer-song writing women which started some time around 1960, made its acoustic way from Woodstock to Lilith Fair, and has since transcended genres into a form of post-pop used to sell computers and Tivo (click the links for examples). However, taken in fully, Van Etten’s creeping, sometimes wailing ballads convey just the right brand of subtle power to quell any accusations of redundancy. Every song has its own ghostly quality, at once reminiscent of the tragic cowboy rock sound of Songs: Ohia, while other times her perfect, wandering voice, against a seemingly strict plucking of acoustic strings, finds its way back to deeper roots such as Neil Young and Joan Baez. Tracks “I Can’t Breathe” and “I Am Giving Up On You” are shining examples of Van Etten’s work, and, while she may be finding her way onto iPods all across Brooklyn, don’t wait for her to show up in any Apple commercials. She’s not selling out: Despite sounding a bit familiar from time to time, her artistry screams independence.