This is a multi-part series on the impacts of incarceration — specifically the disproportionate rates of incarceration Native people face in the state, especially in Northern Minnesota.

KAXE's Larissa Donovan explored the underlying issues of the statistics through survey outreach, extensive research and in-person interviews.

Originally from Minnesota and now based in Nashville, Brennan Wedl, former lead of the queercore band Dazey and the Scouts, carries her punk past into her Americana present self with a sound she’s called “grungetry.” Countrified grunge, alternative Americana, alt-country, alt-folk, however you want to call it, Wedl is all of the above and could be this generation's Lucinda Williams.

The basis for this album is storytelling meets gritty, and each song has its own flavor. “Tasmanian Devil” is snarly and snarky, while “High Priestess” is a beautiful love song that felt familiar the first time I heard it. With lyrics like “Who I am with you, is who I wanna be / I’ll be your high priestess,” paired with beautiful harmonies, it's bound to be a favorite track for me.

On “Let’s Be Models,” she sings, “Let’s get on the jumbotron at MSG, and shake it like an Etch A Sketch." It's the kind of clever line that immediately gets my attention. The “grungetry” sound is very clear on “Pretty Little Fantasy,” which brings together the worlds of Nirvana and Lucinda Williams, where “Just Another Daddy Who Did Me Wrong” shows a vulnerable and hurt side of Wedl.

The beauty of Brennan Wedl is that it doesn’t settle into one vibe. It goes in all directions, keeping you on your toes as a listener and giving you a whole lot of the artist in one album. It’s the kind of record that leaves you wanting more and genuinely excited to see what Brennan Wedl can do next. -KH

Check out our archives.

Check out what's been happening this past year!