Ethel Cain, I'll Always Love You

Hayden Anhedönia's second studio album is a hauntingly beautiful creation that masterfully deepens her signature sound; a blend of Southern Gothic storytelling, ambient soundscapes, and raw lyricism. The prequel to her debut album Preacher's Daughter, Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You is an immaculate and emotionally devastating project that delves deeper into the doomed romance between Willoughby Tucker and Ethel Cain.

Tale and Tragedy

Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You further evolves Anhedönia's sound, as she morphs heartbreaking lyricism and engaging production into a sublime album.

Throughout this record, Anhedönia deepens of the tale and tragedy of her fictional creation, Ethel Cain. Kicking the rollout off with the lead single "Nettles," a gut-wrenching track that many have called the "song of the year," provides a new recollection that delves into the complexities within Willoughby and Ethel's love, while also setting the scene for the album. Following the relative success of the lead single, Anhedönia released the second single "F*ck Me Eyes," introducing a new character, Holly, who is trying to pursue Willoughby. Ethel doesn't blame Holly, knowing that she isn't respected and has had a difficult upbringing, but prefers that she go after other men, not her one true love. With the release of the album, previously unreleased fan-favorite tracks such as "Dust Bowl" and "Waco, Texas" were finally made available. Notable changes from the unreleased Youtube and Soundcloud hits included reimagining of the climax of "Dust Bowl" and lengthening the previously six minute demo of "Waco, Texas" into a staggering 15 minutes. The second-to-last track, "Tempest," is told from Willoughby's perspective and explores how he felt when Ethel left on the fateful night of the tornado, choosing flight over fight. "Tempest" is a masterpiece that overlays heartbreaking vocals, and conveys the contrast he feels between his love for her, and his anger that she left him. The appeal of the track is that it leaves Willoughby's fate undecided; some fans argue that he died the night of the tornado, while others believe that he spent the rest of his life heartbroken. The tragic elements of this album make Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You her saddest album yet, which is a remarkable feat.

Grew Up Hard, Fell Off Harder

Hayden Anhedönia's most detailed album yet, can appear boring on the surface, but each track holds complexities that make the Ethel Cain "lore," more heartbreaking and more compelling. A follow-up album released three years after her debut, and what initially was meant to be a B-sides EP, became a seventy-three minute album that placed Anhedönia in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 for a second time in her career.

For me, I loved this record and I enjoyed how every song was sadder than the previous. Only Ethel Cain could create a 15-minute song like "Waco, Texas" that leaves me wanting more, growing sadder with each listen and serving as a haunting way to close the album. "Tempest" is arguably the best song of her career, and is the climax of this already extremely emotional project. Listening to "Dust Bowl" for the first time on Spotify instead of Youtube was an unforgettable experience, and "A Knock At The Door" and "Janie" are two beautiful tracks that do an amazing job of painting the picture of Ethel's life to allow the listener to immerse themselves in the record. Many would think that a ten-song album with three instrumental tracks would be a snooze, but Anhedönia has mastered the craft of instrumental music as they fit the album perfectly, almost as if the record was built around those three songs. Lastly, Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You is a must-listen and might be the best album released this year.

My Rating of Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You

Top 3: "Nettles," "Tempest," and "Waco, Texas"

Bottom 3: None

Overall Rating: 96/100