Album Review: Julien Baker & TORRES - 'Send a Prayer My Way'

Singer/songwriters Julien Baker and TORRES grew up in Tennessee and Georgia respectively with a love and appreciation of country music. Because both identify as queer, they did not see a lot of representation of themselves in the genre and sought to make music outside of country. Both have had immense success over the years in their respective careers. However, they recently determined that if there wasn't enough representation of queerness in country music, well then they'd make it. Baker (no stranger to collaborations, see boygenius) and TORRES teamed up to collaborate on the 12 track record Send a Prayer My Way.

The record is smooth and full of dynamic duets between Baker and TORRES that shows that this wasn't just fucking around in a different genre. This has been a passion project for the two. Whether taking turns on verses as they do in "Dirt" or combining for soaring vocals as they do on single "Sugar in the Tank", the duo show they are right at home in country music. And let's clear something up really quick, this isn't your pop-country with lyrics about Bud-Light, trucks, and small towns. This is honest, genuine, country that features fantastic accompaniments of fiddle, steel string guitar, and acoustic guitar.

What Baker and TORRES have made here is not just a queer record for the ages. They have created something that many modern era musicians looking to write in the genre should take notes on. The songwriting is astounding as each lyrically-tight track glides effortlessly to the next. Send a Prayer My Way reminds that in a world of sound bytes and singles that type of music will never achieve what a cohesive full-length LP can, particularly in means of storytelling. And boy do Baker and TORRES have some stories to tell. Why don't you pull up a chair this Friday and take a listen?

Rating - 5/5