PHOEBE BRIDGERS - STRANGER IN THE ALPS Vinyl LP

Stranger in the Alps opens with the one-two punch of "Smoke Signals" and "Motion Sickness," a pair of songs that highlight Bridgers' abilities. The former, a gorgeous, ethereal tune guided by sparse electric guitar and sweeping strings, toes the line between weary and wistful, using specific anecdotes from its singer to tell its tale. The style highlights the strengths of Bridgers' unique lyric writing perspective: there are overt references to lost idols, canonical pop songs and actual incidents, but her stories unfold through specific, evocative imagery sung in her subtle, confessional style. The latter is perhaps the most upbeat moment on the album and was written on her baritone guitar and discusses a problematic relationship from her past. "I feel like I'm getting more focused when I write," she says. "My songs are super personal." "Scott Street" is a song inspired by East Los Angeles where Bridgers now lives. "Killer" is a song originally appearing on her Adams-produced single bu