Julien Baker & TORRES - Send A Prayer My Way

With his acclaimed 2014 novel-in-stories book Hill William, beloved writer Scott McClanahan confronts the fragility of time through an unrestrained reflection of the rustic space of his upbringing. Apart from the enthralling personal narrative, McClanahan’s visceral prose creates a bare knuckled bond between writer and reader that urges the latter to closely examine their own history with the same gutsy verve. With Send a Prayer My Way, Julien Baker and TORRES have created a beautifully similar accord.

The 12-song collection of intricate ruminations on addiction, love and regret never act as one-sided confessionals, but as a steady outstretched hand to the listener. With an unwavering commitment in telling the unfiltered truth, the duo have created a body of work that succeeds at building connection and extending encouragement, while still honoring the treasured musical traditions of the genre itself.

On ‘Dirt,’ the pair confront their feelings about addiction over a classic country arrangement with striking lines, like “spend your whole life gettin’ clean, just to wind up in the dirt” and “cause it feels like winning tickets at the arcade, just to trade them in for stuff that you don’t want,” that recall the thoughtful storytelling of John Prine. Though it’s the tonal distinction between Baker’s soft soprano and TORRES’ alto that act as a conversational call and response, truly broadening the accessibility of these lived-in observations that’s effectively used not just here but winningly throughout Send a Prayer My Way. As a companion piece to ‘Dirt,’ the airy instrumentation of ‘Bottom of a Bottle’ recalls some of the wide open spaces that The Chicks dominated in the ‘90s, while lyrically diffusing the often asserted glamour in country music of searching for answers with alcohol. While both songs are profound offerings to detail the journey of battling with addiction, the duo are at their most singular when examining the evolving nature of love and relationships.

The anthemic guitar plucks on ‘Sugar in the Tank’ add a pulsating dimension to the pair’s performance of the list-like lyrical set. Infused with a rollicking Bakersfield sound, the duo dismantle standard country love song tropes, instead celebrating the often imbalanced nature of romantic relationships; whereas the alt-country ‘No Desert Flower’ is an ethereal declaration of evolution that surges with sun-soaked strength. Through admitting their past mistakes, they assert their abilities to now stand firm, no matter what storms might come their way. Similarly, on closer ‘Goodbye Baby,’ they honor the erasure of past insecurities as love continues to grow over a rambling western swing that echoes classic Jimmy Dean.

Send a Prayer My Way is a notable country collection that shines light into every dark corner. With raw, unfettered truth telling, the duo faithfully seek to build meaningful connection with the listener. No matter the topic covered nor differing point of view, Baker and TORRES dispel the myth that we are all so different. Instead, much like McClanahan’s work, Send a Prayer My Way urges that, despite dividing political or societal movements, we remain stronger as one and that love of self and others will always conquer all.

9/10

Julien Baker & TORRES’ 2025 project, Send A Prayer My Way, is available everywhere on April 18 via Matador Records.

For more albums reviews of the genre's newest releases, head here.