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Album reviews with IAN SINCLAIR: September 23, 2024
New releases from Yasmin Williams and The War On Drugs, and a tribute album to Jesse Malin

Yasmin Williams 
Acadia  
(Nonesuch) 

★★★★

INSPIRED to take up the acoustic guitar after playing the Guitar Hero 2 video game, 27-year old Yasmin Williams now makes her debut for a (relatively) major label. The Virginia native plays the finger-style sitting with the instrument on her lap, conjuring stunningly beautiful, melodic contemporary folk music.  

She significantly broadens her sound on Acadia, working with other talented musicians like Rich Ruth (synths) and William Tyler (guitars). On Harvest she is joined by Darian Donovan Thomas on violin, while Hummingbird is a foot-tapping bluegrass workout. Later tracks like Dreamlake and Malamu include electric guitar riffage, with the latter a tribute to her early guitar heroes Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain. 

The War On Drugs 
Live Drugs Again 
(Super High Quality) 

★★★★

Various Artists 
Silver Patron Saints: The Songs Of Jesse Malin 
(Glassnote) 

★★★

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