You Wanted to Be the Shore But Instead You Were the Sea

You Wanted to Be the Shore But Instead You Were the Sea is an album by American-Australian singer-songwriter Natalie D-Napoleon, released in Australia in 2020 and North America and Europe in 2021.

Reception

The album debuted on the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) 100% Independent Chart at number five for the week beginning October 6, reaching number one on the week beginning November 16.

Writing for XPress Magazine, music critic Conor Lochrie said about the album; "This is a raw and honest record and one that clearly values vulnerability." Reviewing the album for PopMatters, Scott M. Morrison, said the album "is audacious, assured, disarming, and even vulnerable." and said of its approach to the subject matter; "It does not idolize or embellish the women whose stories it tells. It does them a far greater service – it gives them an honest voice."

Track listing

All songs by Natalie D-Napoleon, except where noted.

"Thunder Rumor" – 4:04

"How to Break a Spell" – 3:53

"Wildflowers" – 3:13

"Second Time Around" – 4:50

"Soft" – 5:08

"No Longer Mine" – 3:57

"You Wanted to Be the Shore But Instead You Were the Sea" – 4:40

"Gasoline & Liquor" (D-Napoleon, Brett Leigh Dicks) – 4:07

"Mother of Exiles" – 3:46

"Reasons" – 3:56

"Cut Your Hair" – 3:33

"Broken" – 4:57

Personnel

Natalie D-Napoleon – vocals, acoustic guitar, papoose

Dan Phillips – piano, celesta, cajon, percussion, background vocals

James Connolly – bass, double bass, background vocals

Doug Pettibone – electric guitar, pedal steel, mandolin

Angus Cooke – cello

Laura Hemenway – accordion

Jesse Rhodes – additional instrumentation

Freya Phillips - background vocals

Susan Marie Reeves - background vocals

Production notes

James Connolly – producer, engineer

Natalie D-Napoleon - producer

Jesse Rhodes – engineer, mixing

Dan Phillips - mixing

David Locke – mastering

Brett Leigh Dicks – photography, design

References

2020 albums