“Intern” is the most misleading single Angel Olsen could have dropped. Completely ditching the lo-fi indie folk sound of past albums like “Burn Your Fire for No Witness,” listeners were instead greeted with slow and dreamy synths which seemed more fit for a dream pop act. Everything worked out for the naysayers: “Intern” is a great single and is a perfect opener for “My Woman,” but it also sounds absolutely nothing like the rest of the album.
This sense of division, however, is the hardest thing to grasp with “My Woman.” Everything after “Intern” follows a more standard indie rock style, opting for full band instrumentation rather than electronic tracks. “Intern” still congeals with the rest of the album through its lyrics: lines like “Everyone I know has got their own ideal/ I just want to be alive, make something real” signal the fierce individualism Olsen champions while working through her romantic life. Despite these overarching lyrical themes, the track ordering still fails to create a complete experience.
The oddest fragmentation is between the first and second half of the album. Both halves are great, but they feel more like two separate EP’s than a full LP.
Side A echoes the style of indie rockers with songs like “Shut Up Kiss Me” — which is as every bit as fun and abrasive as the title suggests — and “Give It Up,” which use chord progressions echoing Nirvana’s album, “Nevermind.”
The first half of “My Woman” is a great collection of crowd pleasers for concerts, but sounds nothing like side B.
The big shift starts with “Sister,” a longer, drawn out affair meant to emotionally grab listeners. Moving in and out of dramatic guitar climaxes while Olsen regretfully laments “All my life I thought I’d change,” this is the first song to really get the goosebumps going since the opener.
The album doesn’t let up from there: “Woman” plays a similar game to “Sister” with its running time and messy guitar solos. “Pops” tugs on the heartstrings with affectionate piano playing and a lo-fi vocal recording. This second half flows perfectly and is emotionally moving, which makes it feel like its own album entirely separate from the prior tracks.
As much fun as the first half is, the second half is clearly the superior section of the album. This division in both style and quality makes Olsen’s effort feel a little too disjointed. With that being said, “My Woman” overall is a fantastic collection of songs and is well worth multiple listens.
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