Sharon Van Etten Bares Soft Sides And Rugged Edges

By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 16, 2012 10:20PM

The last time we saw Sharon Van Etten, her star was rising high and fast as she sang about having spirits that were down in the dumps. We were impressed with Van Etten's knack for crafting songs that so authoritatively tug at your heartstrings without making you want to stick your head in an oven. With a gentle directness and gorgeous voice, we fell in love with the artist who apparently had so little luck with it herself.

Back with the recently-released Tramp, Van Etten's is still telling her story, and still in a way that makes you feel a kind of universal attachment to her personal vignettes. The experiences are completely Van Etten, but she makes you feel as if she's really just talking about you. Tramp keeps some of the redemptive feel of 2010's Epic, but most of the sparse arrangements and moments of delicacy have been replaced with a wise steeliness. Vulnerable as Van Etten sounds, she's undeniably tough.

Part of that toughness can be heard in the muscular sound Van Etten's developed--rock and roll guitars and some thundering percussion added to her own taut guitar work and vocals. A who's-who of indie artists contributed to the record, including The Walkman's Matt Barrick, Thomas Bartlett of Doveman, Beirut's Zach Condon, vocalist Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and Julianna Barwick. Perhaps the most important collaboration was with Aaron Dessner of the National; in addition to playing on Tramp, Dessner helped Van Etten produce the album and provided his Brooklyn garage studio to record it.

Now that Van Etten's picked up a devoted fan base, support from the music community and critical acclaim (and a permanent address, to boot), her new tunes of resilience and reflection are certainly hard-won. It could also be why her music feels so affecting and true; unlike some artists who've been blasted for their lack of authenticity, Van Etten has lived through each of her songs. And after having your gut and/or heart thoroughly wrenched by tunes like "Give Out," "We Are Fine" or "Joke Or A Lie," you'll be glad that you didn't have to live through it yourself.

Sharon Van Etten plays with Shearwater tonight and tomorrow, February 16 and 17, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln. Tonight, 9 p.m., 18+, Friday (sold out) 10 p.m. 21+