Elvis Perkins: Ash Wednesday
Label: XL
One of the finest debuts of 2007, Elvis Perkins’ Ash Wednesday is a lovely and haunting record, filled with tender and affectionate songs. It’s a sad record in many ways, as Perkins – who lost his father to AIDS and mother in the 9/11 attacks – tackles death and the fragility of life with unblinking honesty, but the album is not maudlin at all. The songs are imbued with hooks and plaintive melodies, and Perkins brings an emotional wallop to the record that’s truly inspirational.
