A Crow Looked at Me

Phil Elverum’s album as Mount Eerie, A Crow Looked at Me, is like a raw, open wound laid bare for everyone to see. It’s his way of dealing with the devastating loss of his wife, and the title couldn’t be more fitting. The whole album feels like a heartfelt message sent up to the sky, hoping that she might somehow hear him.

Listening to this record is like stepping into someone’s private grief. It’s not your typical album with catchy tunes and choruses; it’s more of a stripped-down, emotional outpouring. Elverum uses the simplest tools—just a guitar, his voice, and his raw emotions—to create something that transcends the usual boundaries of music. It’s not just a collection of songs; it’s a personal journey, almost like a form of therapy or a search for redemption.

But here we are, sitting behind our screens, trying to rate and critique something so deeply personal. Elverum’s work has already earned him a place among the most interesting artists of our time, so it’s only natural that we’re curious to see how this new project stacks up against his previous albums. But is it really fair to slap a score on something so intimate? Probably not.

Still, this album is something special. It’s a reminder that we’re all unique, dealing with our own struggles, especially when it comes to loss. Sure, other artists have tackled similar themes—like Sufjan Stevens did with Carrie & Lowell—but there’s a rawness and vulnerability here that defies easy description. It’s the kind of album that hits you deep, connecting us all in ways that are hard to put into words.

So, should we love it? Should we praise it like we do with other great works of art? Maybe not, but that’s exactly what we’re doing—because it reaches into the depths of our souls and leaves a lasting mark.

MOUNT EERIE - A CROW LOOKED AT ME

RATING - 9.9/10

FAVORITE TRACKS - N/A

GENRE - Indie, Folk