Alas I Cannot Swim
A teenage Laura Marling first grabbed attention with songs she posted online, and she released her debut album at 18. But her music really harks back to the pre-Internet era: She writes subtle tunes and poetic lyrics that need to be absorbed the old-fashioned way—over multiple album spins. The production also sounds vintage, with acoustic guitars upfront, and drums used only when absolutely necessary. And if her delicate high register doesn\'t remind you of early Joni Mitchell, the sophisticated chord changes probably will.
Promising Brit-folk singer/songwriter finally has her Mercury Prize-nominated Alas, I Cannot Swim-- recorded when she was just 17-- issued in the U.S.
Due to her youth (16 when she first hit Myspace, 17 when signed to an imprint of EMI, and 18 when her debut album came out), perky-cute looks and extremely British diction, singer/songwriter Laura Marling got a lot of comparisons to Lily Allen in her early buzz, but the quietly compelling Alas I Cannot Swim is not at all a frothy pop confection.