Baltimore, Maryland singer/songwriter Flock of Dimes a.k.a. Jenn Wasner returning for her 3rd studio LP. Releasing her full-length debut If You See Me, Say Yes almost a decade ago & the debut EP Like So Much Desire during the summer of 2020, she would go to sign with Sub Pop Records debut & make her debut in the label with her sophomore effort Head of Roses the next spring. 4 & a half years later, she’s looking to outdo herself artistically with The Life You Save.

The stripped-back 2nd single “Afraid” begins the album with Jenn passionately accepting everything that’s happened & refusing to let it dictate the outcome of her & all of our lives whereas “Keep Me in the Dark” goes for an indie folk vibe asking if her body will catch up to her mind if she acts like she’s above it. “Long After Midnight” made for a bittersweet lead single carrying over the sound of the previous track & a compelling video with Jenn interacting with her inner-child while the final single “Defeat” sings about total surrender going Americana.

“Close to Home” moves from there giving off a secondary influence of electronic music feeling like it won’t be a happy ending if she’s the last one standing leading into “The Enemy” embracing a country rock vibe seeking a vision of the dark from within her. “Not Free Yet” opens up about her night terrors coming over her yet she won’t let them take her over bringing the Americana sound back into the fold while “Pride”  returns to a country rock direction promising that her self-esteem won’t break her.

To begin The Life You Save’s final leg, “Theo” crosses elements of both indie folk & country advising the character who calls on her instead of God to take their heartache to the one who loved her first while “Instead of Calling” easily sticks out as the most mournful moment on the entire record hiding from her truth as she hides in her song. “River in My Arms” tells her partner she can only hold them like a tree holds to it’s leaves & “I Think I’m God” sends it all off continuing to keep going until she’s slowing.

Taking the themes of heartbreak from a dualistic perspective a few steps further, The Life You Save at it’s core is the most honestly intimate music opus in the Flock of Dimes canon story of how it feels to be trapped between the world one originally came from & the one they’ve escaped to. The production here focuses heavier around Americana, singer/songwriter & indie folk with some indie pop, indie rock, indietronica, alt-country, folktronica & dream pop hoping to provide comfort for the people still learning to live with & love themselves.

Score: 4/5

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