Album Review: Ian Sweet - ‘Shiverstruck’

Arguably Americas saddest Indie Darling, Ian Sweet, aka Jilian Medford, is back this week with her fifth album, Shiverstruck.

Shiverstruck begins with the hushed intimacy of “987” where Sweet is accompanied only by her guitar. By the time “Criminal Kissing” arrives, the album has started to bloom, layering rich instrumentation beneath her ethereal voice. Across the record, Sweet ventures through an emotional landscape that is often raw and uncomfortable, embracing every shade of sorrow, desire, and self-reflection.

By the time you reach the album’s title track, you’re lost in the dark, eyes shut tight, feeling the weight of every word. Sweet guides listeners through a haze of reflection and longing, making Shiverstruck more of an emotional experience than a collection of songs.

Shiverstruck is a true indie album, intimate, unfiltered, and deeply human. It ultimately feels like another compelling chapter in the ongoing evolution of Ian Sweet. Whether stripped down to its bare essentials or bursting with instrumentation, these songs linger long after they end. The album invites listeners to sit with their feelings, embracing both the discomfort and beauty that come with them. In doing so, Shiverstruckreaffirms why Ian Sweet remains one of indie music's most affecting and emotionally poignant voices.

Rating - 8/10