Flood (Stella Donnelly)

The sophomore record from Aussie indie songstress Stella Donnelly is a down-to-earth exploration of self, through her compassionate and nurturing outlook on life’s biggest questions. Her debut had more of a tongue-and-cheek cynicism, while Flood feels like she’s trying to accept herself and her situation, while helping the listener do the same. Her descriptions of the mundane are tangible and vivid, and reveal so much about her personality and thought process. She seamlessly transitions between upbeat pop tunes and tender piano ballads. Take “How Was Your Day?” for instance, whose instrumental is fun and punchy– it’s Belle and Sebastian-esque. The song fades perfectly into “Restricted Accounts” which is somber and gentle but has a steady swell to it. Enough to make a grown man cry :’). Her instrumentals have a subtle beauty to them, as if she’s begging you to pay attention to each detail. Each track is a journey into Stella’s inner monologue, and though her stories are bittersweet, sometimes downright melancholic, you leave knowing that we need more people like Stella Donnelly in the world.