Epic

Released in 2010 on Ba Da Bing!, Epic served as the breakthrough moment for Sharon Van Etten, transitioning her from a lo-fi folk outlier to a central figure in the Brooklyn indie scene. Recorded at Miner Street Recordings, the album expanded her sonic palette beyond the solo acoustic format of 'Because I Was in Love' by introducing a full band on several tracks, most notably on the driving 'Peace Signs' and the harrowing 'Don't Do It'. The album is anchored by its closing track, 'Love More', which features a haunting harmonium arrangement that has since become one of her signature sounds. Critics at AllMusic and the BBC praised the album for its emotional transparency and the unique gravitas of Van Etten's contralto. While only seven tracks long, the record is considered a pivotal document of early 2010s indie folk, balancing skeletal arrangements with a burgeoning sense of rock dynamics that would define her subsequent work.