1.
The singer-songwriter is a tough role to play today. Basically, one person singing their heart out has been done before. Over and over again. So, it’s a role that often gets associated with stagnancy, an “if you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all” perspective. So to call Sharon Van Etten a singer-songwriter, while accurate, might also be selling her short. She’s great, and a lot of people more talented and important than me think so too. On this song alone she’s got features from members of The National, The Walkmen and Wye Oak. “Serpent” is a fiery, folksy anthem – it’s got some bite to it and will be hard to get out of your head.
