Ivy Tripp

Released in 2015, Ivy Tripp represents a pivotal expansion in Waxahatchee's sonic palette. Following the breakout success of Cerulean Salt, Katie Crutchfield moved away from strictly 'confessional' folk toward a more layered, '90s-influenced indie rock sound. Recorded in a gym-turned-studio in Long Island, the album incorporates Casio keyboards, drum machines, and more prominent electric guitar distortion. Critics from Pitchfork and NME noted its themes of 'stagnancy' and the refusal to follow a traditional life path, a sentiment reflected in the title itself. The production, handled by Crutchfield alongside Keith Spencer and Kyle Gilbride, maintains a lo-fi intimacy while embracing a more 'maximalist' approach compared to her debut. It stands as a bridge between her early punk-adjacent roots and the more polished Americana of her later career, capturing a unique moment of experimental restlessness.