Album Review // This Is Lorelei // The Singer in My Band
3.5/5 stars
Like an iceberg at sea, This Is Lorelei is deceptively sprawling. This side project comes from Water From Your Eyes guitarist and producer Nate Amos, who has released a collective of 30 EPs, mixtapes, and compilations under this pseudonym. Even with such a back catalog, This Is Lorelei didn't escape from Chicago's independent music scene until 2024's Box for Buddy, Box for Star. That project, Amos' first studio album as This Is Lorelei, was a smashing success, garnering critical success and acclaim from folk and rock contemporaries such as MJ Lenderman, Hayley Williams, and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, many of whom are making covers of his work. Two years later, This Is Lorelei is back with The Singer in My Band. Now signed to the iconic Matador Records label, the project presents a polished form of sound that still rings true to Amos' polymath abilities. His new batch of songs is his most country-leaning: a persistent twang and layer of dust line these tracks, born through his countless hours on the road with Water From Your Eyes. However, these sonic changes don't take away from the musician's skill. Songs like "Billy Came Back" and "The Kid With the Crown" contain this wondrous, driving groove that is indicative of an experienced songwriter. Whether a newcomer to the project or a Nate Amos enthusiast, The Singer in My Band is a solid entry into the This Is Lorelei canon.
