On her luminous and sometimes piercing sophomore LP,
Jenn Wasner struggles through the overwhelming nature of heartbreak, coming to grips with the conflicting roles of both the breaker and the broken. Written in quarantine and recorded with a trusted cadre of collaborators,
Head of Roses builds on the singer/songwriter's growing canon of intimate yet approachable art-pop which she releases under the name
Flock of Dimes. Ultimately more layered and complex than
Wasner's work as part of
Wye Oak,
Flock of Dimes' material manages to express an acute vulnerability without becoming stuck in the quagmire of deflated confessionalism. As on her excellent 2016 debut,
Wasner tackles painful subjects with a sense of wonder, as if she's marveling at the complexities of human nature rather than being crushed by them. The clamorous "Price of Blue" ripples with wild energy as, in between epic guitar solos,
Wasner examines the ruins, singing "and I can wander the wreck amazed and shivering." There is certainly sadness and regret in her lyrics, but on standouts like "Two" and "Lightning," they drift across the landscape in cloudy mists of skittering percussion, sparsely picked guitar, and saxophone as if rootless. This meeting of poignancy and sonic uplight is one of
Wasner's personal hallmarks and a big part of what makes her music so effective. More transformative than dour,
Head of Roses is a journey toward healing and marks another strong entry in
Flock of Dimes' growing catalog of work. ~ Timothy Monger