Mariee Sioux is an indie-folk singer/songwriter, which is always a blessing and a curse. Everything in that genre has been clearly defined and it can be difficult to stand out in an increasingly overcrowded field. The beauty of Gift for the End is that it doesn’t try to stand out — it’s focus is too sharp to be concerned with outside context.
From the the stunning opener “Homeopathic” to the haunting closer “Tule”, there’s nothing but expertly crafted music. Sioux is another example of an artist who’s figured out how to best complement her vocals with her music. Everything here feels connected and complete. It’s just that what she’s doing is nothing entirely new, which is the only thing that ends up hurting it. It’ll be interesting to see if Sioux goes for the jugular on her next LP because with talent as clear as this, there’s no telling what she’s capable of.