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CD
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FEELIT 152CD
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"After some turbulent late teen years in her former pop punk band, Mixtapes, Maura Weaver needed a break. Months became years and the songs still weren't coming. It wasn't until being thrust into personal heartache in 2020 that she began to write songs again and the result was her 2023 solo debut I Was Due For A Heartbreak. Weaver's sophomore effort Strange Devotion continues in a similar vein. Written and recorded at an allegedly haunted Northern Kentucky studio with longtime collaborator John Hoffman, Weaver's melody-driven and thought-provoking lyrics are as present as ever. A confidence flows through the ten distinct tracks suffused with intentional and delicate storytelling while presenting a sonic palette that spans the Feelies, Teenage Fanclub, Liz Phair, and even the Cars. Emotionally, this second LP mines from a deeper place for Weaver. Her determination and power as a songwriter are nowhere clearer than in the haunting 'Museum Glass,' a song that reckons with her experience of being stalked and assaulted early in her career. The song reminds listeners how quickly our spirit can be taken but also how much power we gain from its reclamation, from an act of resurrection, from moving on even when it seems impossible. The song is a perfect iteration of the record's most powerful theme: rebuilding and reclaiming the ability to take ownership of one's art and indeed one's life. On Strange Devotion Maura Weaver has done what some would deem impossible: she has created an indie-pop gem that feels both intimate and grand at the same time. Listening to this record is like sitting in your bedroom with your best friend who is whispering in your ear about the secrets of the universe, the mysteries of life, and a few jokes. The record is a fearless document of personal growth, a statement of emotional solidarity, and an affirmation. It is the marriage of undeniably catchy hooks and an emotional profundity that is increasingly rare these days."
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LP
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FEELIT 152LP
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LP version. "After some turbulent late teen years in her former pop punk band, Mixtapes, Maura Weaver needed a break. Months became years and the songs still weren't coming. It wasn't until being thrust into personal heartache in 2020 that she began to write songs again and the result was her 2023 solo debut I Was Due For A Heartbreak. Weaver's sophomore effort Strange Devotion continues in a similar vein. Written and recorded at an allegedly haunted Northern Kentucky studio with longtime collaborator John Hoffman, Weaver's melody-driven and thought-provoking lyrics are as present as ever. A confidence flows through the ten distinct tracks suffused with intentional and delicate storytelling while presenting a sonic palette that spans the Feelies, Teenage Fanclub, Liz Phair, and even the Cars. Emotionally, this second LP mines from a deeper place for Weaver. Her determination and power as a songwriter are nowhere clearer than in the haunting 'Museum Glass,' a song that reckons with her experience of being stalked and assaulted early in her career. The song reminds listeners how quickly our spirit can be taken but also how much power we gain from its reclamation, from an act of resurrection, from moving on even when it seems impossible. The song is a perfect iteration of the record's most powerful theme: rebuilding and reclaiming the ability to take ownership of one's art and indeed one's life. On Strange Devotion Maura Weaver has done what some would deem impossible: she has created an indie-pop gem that feels both intimate and grand at the same time. Listening to this record is like sitting in your bedroom with your best friend who is whispering in your ear about the secrets of the universe, the mysteries of life, and a few jokes. The record is a fearless document of personal growth, a statement of emotional solidarity, and an affirmation. It is the marriage of undeniably catchy hooks and an emotional profundity that is increasingly rare these days."
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