Reflecting her then-recent move from New York to Nashville,
Sarah Jarosz goes Music City modern on
Polaroid Lovers, her seventh set. From its glamorous cover photo to its glossy production, the 11-song album feels countrypolitan in essence, moving her further into pop music than she has been before.
Jarosz has built her career as a virtuosic instrumentalist and introspective songwriter with one of the sweetest voices you'll hear, but
Polaroid Lovers proves her talents can thrive just as well outside of her native acoustic and Americana formats. Take "Jealous Moon" with its murmuring synths and driving rock beat. It's an exciting, melodic single that sets the tone, both sonically and lyrically. Each song is a romantic snapshot, revealing intimate, but fleeting details of strong emotions and moments passed. This ephemerality moves through the gentle soft rock of "When the Lights Go Out" and "Columbus & 89th," one of the rare acoustic-oriented cuts. The vulnerability that makes much of her music so enticing comes out in the lovely "Good at What I Do," after which she flips the scripts on the seductively playful "Mezcal and Lime." Until now
Jarosz has largely operated as a solo songwriter, but on
Polaroid Lovers she leans into another Nashville tradition and works with co-writers. This committee approach can often yield positive chart results, if somewhat dulled artistry, but
Jarosz navigates her collaborations with hard-won grace and confidence, turning in a strong and appealing effort. ~ Timothy Monger