Album Review: Angel Olsen – Forever Means

A Reflection on Growth

American singer-songwriter, Angel Olsen, recently released Forever Means, a four-song EP building off her thoughts and experiences since her most recent album, Big Time. She uses lyrics sparingly and deliberately to express herself and explore her experiences with gentle vocals and retro instrumentation. These four songs are an introspective dive into Olsen’s most venerable thoughts and feelings, as she has grown and found herself in the past year.

She begins the EP on a venerable and raw note with “Nothing’s Free.” Gentle piano and melancholic saxophone fill most of the song, as the lyrics are sparse. Despite there being few lines sung, she is deliberate and eloquently expresses finding herself and freedom at the expense of a painful process and some losses. The track is smooth and slow, allowing the listeners to enter into her world from the first few notes.

The following track, “Forever Means,” is another introspective and gentle track. A guitar supports her vocals, and her voice floats over the top in a mournful tone. She reflects on her experiences and sings about growth. She explains what forever means to her and how it’s expressed in her relationships. This slow and reflective track gives the listeners insight into her mind and experiences.

“Time Bandits,” the next track, is another laid-back track, but has more built-up instrumentation. The retro guitar and saxophone are still present, but a more prominent and modern drum joins her. She sings about longing for someone and a feeling. The melody wavers in a tone of aching desire for this other person or feeling she is singing to. This track takes on a somewhat different sound than the previous ones, but is still a reflective and gentle look into Olsen’s feelings and thoughts.

The final track, “Holding On,” contrasts the tone of the rest of the EP, as she sings out confidently over electric guitars and percussion. This is a powerful and upbeat track, in which she sings about not seeing what someone gave her until they were gone. She takes on a bolder sound as she strays away from the gentle vocals, sings loudly and takes control. She ends the EP on a strong and confident note that contrasts the previous three tracks.

Angel Olsen’s recent EP, Forever Means, is an introspective song collection that explores her feelings and thoughts as she has grown and found herself.