Pohorylle is the 2021 debut full-length album by American country musician Margo Cilker. It received positive reviews from critics.
| Pohorylle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 5, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Americana[1] | |||
| Length | 31:24 | |||
| Label | Fluff & Gravy | |||
| Producer | Sera Cahoone | |||
| Margo Cilker chronology | ||||
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Reception edit
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Pohorylle received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.[2] In Glide Magazine, John Moore characterized this release as "a remarkable career starting point, that grows more impressive with each listen".[1] John Mulvey of Mojo gave Pohorylle 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the music initially sounds like straightforward Americana, but as the tracks unfold, Cilker incorporates other influences and "[Cilker]’s not averse to throwing a Dixieland jazz band into the mix", resulting in a "very good" debut.[3] In No Depression, Maeri Ferguson called Pohorylle "profound" for displaying Cilker's self-exploration in the lyrics and various "sonic capabilities" that have "the prettiest shimmery melodies".[4] Writing for Pitchfork, Stephen M. Deusner rated Pohorylle a 7.7 out of 10, opining that Cilker wrote country music outside of the genre's mainstream, leading it to "conveys a distinct and lively personality".[5]
PopMatters' Steve Horowitz considered this release an exploration of femininity and favorably compares the songwriting to The Band, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell.[6] In a review for Cilker's follow-up Valley of Heart's Delight, Chris DeVille of Stereogum called this album "one of those records that never dredged up a torrential hype storm but became a treasured favorite for many" for presenting "Cilker as a chronicler of the world’s less explored corners, with a knack for smart, funny wordplay and a musical style that blurred the lines between country and folk-rock".[7] That site also chose this as the fifth best country album of 2021 with "so much unexpected joy and wit", where "Cilker nudges her delivery from matter of fact to a soft warble, drawing you along in conversation, a bunch of songs for the road we’re all trying desperately to navigate".[8] In Uncut, Rob Hughes scored this album 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting several individual tracks for being "awash with grace, wisdom and allusive wordplay".[9]
In a 2022 review of a live performance by Cilker, Kitty Empire called Pohorylle "a flawless gem of a record that provided instant succour and the promise of more expansive times to come".[10]
Track listing edit
- "That River" – 3:09
- "Kevin Johnson" – 3:24
- "Broken Arm in Oregon" – 3:47
- "Flood Plain" – 3:26
- "Tehachapi" – 3:07
- "Barbed Wire (Belly Crawl)" – 2:44
- "Chester's" – 3:37
- "Brother, Taxman, Preacher" – 2:36
- "Wine in the World" – 5:34
Personnel edit
- Margo Cilker – guitar, vocals
- John Morgan Askew – instrumentation, engineering, mixed
- Sera Cahoone – production
- Sarah Cilker – harmony vocals
- Jenny Conlee – keyboards
- JJ Golden – mastering at Bocce, Vancouver, Washington, United States
- Jason Kardong – pedal steel guitar
- Mirabai Peart – strings
- Kelly Pratt – horns
- Rebecca Young – bass
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Moore, John (November 10, 2021). "Margo Cilker Makes Stunning Americana Debut with 'Pohorylle'". Album Reviews. Glide Magazine. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pohorylle by Margo Cilker Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. n.d. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Mulvey, John (December 2021). Bulley, Jenny (ed.). "Filter Albums". Mojo Filter. Mojo. No. 337. p. 90. ISSN 1351-0193.
- ^ Ferguson, Maeri (December 1, 2021). "Margo Cilker Debuts with Honest and True 'Pohorylle'". Reviews. No Depression. ISSN 1088-4971. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (November 4, 2021). "Margo Cilker: Pohorylle". Albums. Pitchfork. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Horowitz, Steve (November 28, 2021). "Margo Cilker: Pohorylle". Reviews. PopMatters. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (September 12, 2023). "Margo Cilker's 'Valley Of Heart's Delight' Review". Album Of The Week. Stereogum. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Ross, Marissa R. (December 13, 2023). "The 10 Best Country Albums Of 2021". 2021 In Review. Stereogum. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Hughes, Rob (November 26, 2021). "Margo Cilker – Pohorylle". Reviews > Album. Uncut. ISSN 1368-0722. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (September 3, 2022). "Margo Cilker review – perfectly crafted Americana for the open road". Kitty Empire's artist of the week. The Observer. Guardian Media Group. ISSN 0029-7712. OCLC 50230244. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
External links edit
- Pohorylle at Discogs (list of releases)
- Pohorylle at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
