The city of Detroit is able to claim another, in that of fresh of talent Anna Burch as she releases her second full album. The track list which came out just this last year is still slowly making its rounds in various publications and of course has now ended up here. The indie pop artist is doing some different things in this latest time out in If You’re Dreaming, an album that will be relatable to many in the present day as multiple countries of the world have been forced into isolation and into a life that is almost unnatural and not without its difficulties.
If You’re Dreaming is a softer album loaded with heavy emphasis on the guitar playing, lengthy instrumentals, and relatable yet deep lyricism
In contrast to the vibrancy of her first album in 2018 Quit the Curse, If You’re Dreaming is a softer album loaded with heavy emphasis on the guitar playing, lengthy instrumentals, and relatable yet deep lyricism that will require more focus so as to grasp the understanding. It’s an easy to listen to album it terms of its pacing and sound, but it is also a harder to digest album regarding its content and its substance. The longer tracks serve up a balanced mix of guitar and keyboard instrumentals, along with writing that is reflective of Burch’s current state of mind in the new age she finds herself in. In just under forty minutes, within the parameters of twelve songs, the indie-pop singer/songwriter has much to say and says it in a way that is soft, dream-like, soothing, and relatively creative.
To be clear, If You’re Dreaming doesn’t come with an instruction manual, so the listener is in a way, given a choice to either lay back and vibe or to listen intently to grasp what Burch is trying to say. Some songs are also simpler than others, but to offer more clarity, none of the tracks are so deep that they are hard to understand. Can’t Sleep sounds as though it’s about insomnia, something many people are likely dealing with in 2020 due to the added stress of the current circumstances that they’d otherwise be without. Party’s Over lyrics hint exhaustion and more clearly put, just being tired. This could be indicative of feeling this way in a general sense, though she did just recently finish a tour so from her part it’s likely an ode to her feeling on doing the work as an artist and the toll in takes on oneself in order to thrive in music. Then there are two tracks, Picture Show and Keep It Warm, which are purely music without lyrics. They are short, but definitely impactful, and are otherwise consistent with the rest of the record’s overall tone.
Most if not all the songs can be enjoyed simply by listening, or by REALLY hearing what the songs have to say. Do understand going in that much of how the listener will feel in relation to each song will depend on their current state of being presently. Spotify is streaming the album, and YouTube has it as well.
