Marissa Nadler has been one of my favorite singer/songwriters since around 2005. As I became more influenced by great songwriters and poets in the early 2000’s when I became a huge Leonard Cohen fan, got into Townes Van Zandt, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Fairport Convention, Tori Amos and then learned more about Tom Watis, Mark Lanegan, Kristin Hersh, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks and more I found the music of Marissa Nadler. With a hauntingly sweet voice that sung every song into a story and imagine you into the story seeing what she is seeing, expressing what she is expressing, taking cover songs and putting them in her own spinning reality images. Here is a review of some of my favorite songs and video clips of the great Marissa Nadler. Creativity in every endeavor. Music, artwork, videos, performances.
First of all her website is https://www.marissanadler.com/ so much info on her career, albums, shows, merch, press & more. Marissa’s bandcamp page https://marissanadler.bandcamp.com/
Marissa’s new album “The Path of the Clouds” will come out this year on the great “Sacred Bones Records” in October. I cannot wait. https://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/products/sbr280-marissa-nadler-the-path-of-the-clouds go to Sacred Bones and pre-order yours. An album loosely based from Marissa writing songs while binging “Unsolved Mysteries” during quarantining.
A song preview from Marissa’s youtube page for “Bessie, Did You Make It?”
The first album of Marissa’s I listened to was “Ballads of Living and Dying” (2004-Eclipse Records)
A very important record during a lost, sad, deeply in love with someone who was far away and with another. 2004 (when I was 24) was such a rediscovering year, a year filled with finding my writing style, and reading aloud in poetry coffeehouses. Albums like this one helped encourage me to find my writing style. An often melancholy walk in sadness. Glimpses of hope, and ultimately alone and waiting (during this time) I often call songs from this album classics “Fifty Five Falls” “Undertaker” “Bird Song” “Annabelle Lee” are all just part of a great debut LP.
The Saga of Mayflower May (2005-Eclipse Records) is an underrated in my collection of Marissa’s albums I have. I think because I was still so entrenched in the first album by the time this one came out. Over the years I have listened more and more to this album and love it.
Songs III (Bird on the Water) 2007-Peacefrog Records is my favorite album of Marissa’s earlier work and possibly my most listened to.
“Diamond Heart” “Mexican Summer” “Thinking of You” “Silvia’ “Bird on Your Grave” such a wonderful cover of “Famous Blue Raincoat”
“Little Hells -2009 Kemado Records)
Some sad awesome songs on this one ” Heart Paper Lover” “Mary Come Alive” “Ghosts and Lovers” is just a great album.
Marissa’s self titled LP in 2011 (Box of Cedar) took a great effort to get released.
Songs that I enjoy quite a bit include “In Your Lair, Bear”, “The Sun Always Reminds Me of You” “Alabaster Queen” “Puppet Master”
“July -2014 Sacred Bones Records”
The first album under Sacred Bones brings indie folk & dream pop together wonderfully.
Favorites include “Drive” “Firecrackers” “Dead City Emily” “Was It a Dream”
“Strangers” in 2016 Sacred Bones Records has some songs that I constantly play in my Marissa Nadler folder on my phone. Including “Katie I Know” “Hungry is the Ghost” “Shadow Show Diane” “Strangers”
“For My Crimes” 2018 Sacred Bones Records. My favorite album of Marissa’s in the last half of the decade. Such an artistic vision with this.
“For My Crimes w/Angel Olsen” ” I Can’t Listen to Gene Clark Anymore w/Sharon Van Etten”, “Blue Vapor” “Said Goodbye to the Car” (the perfect song for Letting Past People Go)
“Droneflower” is an album Marissa did with former Cave-In member Stephen Brodsky (2019 Sacred Bones Records) a little heavier album at times.
Marissa also has several compilation albums, covers albums, EPs and more to check out. Some covers to check out and get a taste of what is on these comps and cover albums.
I really enjoy this Happy Rhodes cover. Always cool to see artists recognize Happy Rhodes.
I think I’ve written at least 2 poems based on this song.
with John Cale
Interview: Marissa Nadler Talks New Album For My Crimes
https://www.songwritersonprocess.com/blog/2018/10/12/marissa-nadler
Fevers of the Mind 
Really enjoying this.
Obviously, I have not listened to all the songs yet. But I will later today.
What I HAVE heard is absolutely wonderful and beautiful.
Thank you so much.
I would probably never have discovered this artist if not for your post.
Thanks again for enriching my life just a little bit more with this music.
Almost all of the other artists you mentioned are artists I have spilled virtual ink on, especially Joni Mitchell.
I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to drop a link to one of my many, many Joni Posts
And if dropping links annoys you, please let me know and I’ll not do it again
https://texantales.com/2015/01/03/great-song-for-a-rainy-day/
Cheers
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