Marissa Nadler has announced her eighth album, For My Crimes, out September 28th via Sacred Bones and Bella Union. With the sound of turmoil giving way to truth, the songs stare down the dark realization that love may not be enough to keep two people together through distance and differing needs. By asking these difficult questions about her relationships, Nadler has found a stronger sense of self and a sharper voice as both a songwriter and a vocalist, culminating in her most evocative entry in an already impressive discography.
Nadler co-produced For My Crimes with Lawrence Rothman and Justin Raisen at Rothman’s Laurel Canyon studio, House of Lux. Bolstering the intimacy of these songs is the strong feminine energy that defined their recording. Between Rothman’s fluidity with both gender and genre (as heard on his 2017 album The Book of Law), and Raisen’s track record of successful collaborations with strong women (Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon, Charli XCX), Nadler felt empowered to explore without judgement in the studio. With the exception of saxophonist Dana Colley (Morphine), every player on the album is a woman of notable pedigree and distinct style, many of whom have played with Nadler over the years. Cameos include vocals from Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Kristin Kontrol, Patty Schemel (Hole, Juliette and the Licks) on drums, Mary Lattimore on harp, and the great experimental multi-instrumentalist Janel Leppin on strings.
The opening title track being shared today is classic Nadler: a sweeping, vaguely Southern drama of voices, strings, and acoustic guitar, that walks the fine line between character song and personal indictment by metaphor. “For My Crimes” spawned out of a songwriting exercise in which Nadler wrote from the perspective of someone on death row, but the song casts a dark shadow over an album that turns conflict into inner reflection. Helping Nadler dig down into the song’s remorseful soul is her old friend Angel Olsen, who serves as a distraught echo from beyond in the chorus.
Adding to the album’s deeply personal feeling is its abstracted artwork, featuring Nadler’s original oil paintings. Though Nadler is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a semi-retired art teacher (she has one student left—a 95-year-old named Doris), For My Crimes marks the first album cover bearing one of her paintings. She also channeled the album’s themes into paintings corresponding to specific tracks, which will be included as prints in the limited edition version of For My Crimes (and in some cases, for sale as originals on Nadler’s website.
For My Crimes Tracklist:
1. For My Crimes
2. I Can’t Listen to Gene Clark Anymore
3. Are You Really Going to Move to the South?
4. Lover Release Me
5. Blue Vapor
6. Interlocking
7. All Out of Catastrophes
8. Dream Dream Big in the Sky
9. You’re Only Harmless When You Sleep
10. Flame Thrower
11. Said Goodbye to That Car
Marissa Nadler Tour Dates:
Thu. Oct. 4 – North Adams, MA @ MASS MoCA w/ The Decemberists
Fri. Oct. 5 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre w/ The Decemberists
Mon. Oct. 8 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre w/ The Decemberists
Tue. Oct. 23 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique (Autumn Falls)
Wed. Oct. 24 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet
Thu. Oct. 25 – Paris, FR @ Point FMR
Fri. Oct. 26 – Berlin, DE @ Musik & Frieden
Sat. Oct. 27 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen
Mon. Oct. 29 – Manchester, UK @ Gullivers
Tue. Oct. 30 – London, UK @ St Mattias Church (Dalston)
