Even if you know nothing about the lore surrounding Ethel Cain, ‘American Teenager’ immediately registers as a massive heartland anthem. For the uninitiated, it also serves as an introduction to the all-American tale she masterfully lays out in “Preacher’s Daughter”, delivered here in its most accessible form – when the American dream has dimmed but not fully subverted, and searching desperation has yet to take its toll. She offers a glimpse of small-town life with references to high school football and crying under the bleachers, memories that haven’t lost their tinge of romance. ‘American Teenager’ doesn’t mask disillusionment so much as it soars through it, using it as fuel for her own path to self-actualization: “I don’t need anything from anyone/ It’s just not my year/ But I’m all good out here,” she sings, which could sound like slyly twisting the truth for the sake of hope. But how you could not believe it when out here sounds so magnificent?
Ethel Cain performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded August 19th, 2022.
Songs: A House In Nebraska Thoroughfare Crush Sun Bleached Flies
Hayden Anhedönia (aka Ethel Cain) – Piano / Vocals Steven Colyer – Guitar Caden Clinton – Percussion
The Fat Angel Sings 