MP3 | Sharon Van Etten — ‘For You’

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten spent this Valentine’s Day at home with her cats and some wine, presumably playing beautiful, heart-wrenching ballads to them in between her classic French films. Her own description of her music as “sad prairie folk music” is right on the money – her sound is as sad, acousticy and lovely as anyone could wish. There’s definitely a more than a hint of Meg Baird (whom Sharon supported on her 2008 UK tour) about her, but Sharon’s voice is less fey and, if possible, even more tragic.

‘For You’ is a perfect sad prairie showpiece taken from Sharon’s forthcoming debut album Because I Was In Love, released through Language Of Stone in May. It’s a exquisitely basic song – a simple, repeated riff, a familiar tale of love, longing and heartbreak, and not an awful lot else. Take heed: if you are exposed for this for too long a period you may find yourself bursting into tears spontaneously at the most inappropriate times. But it’s probably worth it.

FREE MP3: Sharon Van Etten, ‘For You’

BONUS MP3: Sharon Van Etten, ‘I Wish I Knew’ [via RCRDLBL]

Because I Was In Love
01 I Wish I Knew
02 Consolation Prize
03 For You
04 I Fold
05 Have You Seen
06 Tornado
07 Much More Than That
08 Same Dream
09 Keep
10 It’s Not Like
11 Holding Out

UK release date: 25/05/09

‘It’s Not Like’ [live]

‘I Am Giving Up On You’ [live]

Tagged sharon van etten