Over the past ten years since her last album, Jenny Owen Youngs has been on quite a journey. She's traveled the world, co-written a chart-topping song with Panic! At The Disco (among many other co-writes), started a popular podcast called Buffering The Vampire Slayer, secured a book deal, had her music featured in numerous movies and TV shows, relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and then to coastal Maine, and experienced the ups and downs of marriage.

Now, with her new album, Avalanche, Youngs has finally returned with a musical offering that was worth the long wait. Collaborating with a group of talented friends, including S. Carey, Madi Diaz, Peter Silberman from the Antlers, and Christian Lee Hutson, and working with producer Josh Kaufman, the album is a beautifully poignant exploration of themes like loss, resilience, and personal growth. Despite the serene surface of the songs, they are built upon rich, dreamy arrangements that hide profound emotional depths.

Youngs' performances on the album are captivating and nuanced, delicately conveying the pain of regret and the joy of redemption, sometimes within the same breath. Avalanche is arguably the most raw and impactful release of her career, a brutally honest and vulnerable work that reflects on her past, ultimately transforming doubt and grief into hope and transcendence.

The album's core message is that amidst devastating heartache, there can be moments of profound happiness. It emphasizes the idea that time is a crucial factor in healing from pain and isolation, and while the journey may be challenging, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel for those who are willing to persevere. More than a decade after her last album, Jenny Owen Youngs has not only returned but has emerged on the other side of her journey, stronger and more resilient than ever.