As we approach midsummer, I relaxed into an album that is all about the evergreens and summer sunshine. There was an extensive press pack that went with this album, which is now out on all platforms, as it was released on June 6.
I will share the press information with you all so you get a feel for this release—then my review.
“I love origin stories,” says Suzie Ungerleider. “I love finding out where people are and how they got there, so I’m constantly thinking about that. Everybody’s carrying around their own narrative.” Among the Evergreens is the revered Americana singer-songwriter’s own narrative.
Emerging under her own name in 2021 after retiring her long-time moniker, Oh Susanna, “Among the Evergreens” is Suzie’s most personal album yet and continues the thrice JUNO nominated artist’s celebrated tradition of telling stories. “At the beginning of my musical journey, I was afraid to show myself, so I took on a persona, and I wrote songs in a fictionalized way,’ she reflects of her lifelong journey towards becoming more comfortable with the vulnerability of revealing herself. “It is this idea of trying to merge the musical person and the human being that I am and get closer to what is important to me. And it’s interesting, because the more specific I get, the more universal it is.” Indeed, Suzie’s beautifully evocative and atmospheric songs may draw the listener into her world but they are universally relatable, traversing the typical chapters of a person’s life. These are tales about teenagehood, the loss of innocence, the breakdown of relationships, young love, marriage, motherhood, survival and second chances, fights and forgiveness. And they are utterly captivating. Divided into two parts, “Then” and “Now”—songs inspired by the past and by the present—we listen to Suzie reflecting on what it means to be in the middle of life, seeking answers to who she was and who she is now.
“It’s about being like a tree with all those rings around you, the layers of your life telling you who you were and where you’ve been,” she says. Imagery of the outdoors, of green valleys and trees shedding their leaves, infuses this new collection. It was written in America-born, Canada-raised Suzie’s hometown of Vancouver, a city among the evergreens—the cherished place to which she returned after being lured by the thrill and promise of Toronto.
My review.
The album has ten songs and lasts just over 34 minutes. I’m just having a listen and not reading all the background on the songs—just taking them as they wash over me (although the development of the tracks did make for an interesting perspective afterward)!
“The Prize” opens the album in dreamy folk style, very intimate. It reminded me of the hopes of youth, when you head out and come of age, wondering what the night away from parents will bring! It tells a simple story, very personal and introspective.
“Cicadas.” This is an uplifting track that I would have probably opened the album with. It was very under my umbrella! A breezy country tale of hills and green valleys, a celebration of teenage years being yourself and having fun. At 2.26 it is a very short track, like those teenage years! The cheery chorus speaks of love and the guitar sound is uplifting.
“Real Estate” is an introspective track. It is a reflection on those friends we never see again, those trees that lose their leaves. There is a sadness in the lyrics and the melody; the blues infuse with folk and the crisp production brings the singer next to me in the room. This is using those blues to wonder, “Will someone fall in love with you tonight?”
“Juniper.” This was the recent single from the album. Written as a gift to her husband for their 20th anniversary, as they met in the summertime, getting a farmer tan while Suzie was swept off her feet and the juniper smelled so sweet. It is a song of love, life and enjoying that love that comes with youth.
“College Street.” I sometimes return to a place I would wander as a child or a teenager and the world was different then. I think as we return to places, sometimes it makes us feel older. This track tells of that, and one of the aspects of the storytelling here is that it is connective; we have those moments. The baby sleeps in the back now, and motherhood does change us for sure.
“Mount Shasta” is one of those sad songs about when a relationship has run a while and those exciting early days are over. It’s one of those things that comes with growing older: love changes! It is a sad song in many ways, with a twist of angst in there too.
“I’m sorry and you’re right.” This is a song to her daughter and the lyrics seem plucked from a mother’s life with her child. The introduction of a Wurlitzer electric piano is interesting and the track has an uplift to the sadness within the thoughts. I would say more than anything this album seems to be a repositioning of the artist’s perspectives on her life and relationships that she is sharing with us.
“Sirens.” This reminded me of a stripped-down Beatles-style moment, like something from the White Album era. I liked it for its simplicity and immediacy.
“Golden” tells us just how fragile life is. My message for every reader out there is that we can’t change yesterday; we can only try to enjoy today and influence tomorrow. A sweetness of melody and the vocal delivery lift this track out of reverie into a gentle sway. A little sad for me lyrically, however!
“The Wilds.” Suzie closes the album in a return to the folk style of Suzie. It is a message to her child that she will fly one day, but no matter how our children grow, we worry about them every day. Abba do a song called “Slipping through my fingers” on a similar theme and that song I can barely listen to, as I find it makes me cry! It was also interesting that this song had the lyric “Blackbird, you can fly,” so I wonder if I am right on the influence of the “White Album” here.
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Standout Tracks: “Cicadas” and “Juniper.”
In summary: From breezy hilltop anthems to teary-eyed lullabies, Evergreens is a patchwork of memory, melody, and meaning. Suzie doesn’t just write songs—she bottles seasons of her life and lets them loose into ours. If you’ve ever laughed through tears, danced through doubt, or stared at a sunset wondering where the time went, this album is for you. So pour a cup of something warm, put the world on pause, and take a walk through Evergreens—just be warned, you might not come back the same.
You can stream music from Suzie Ungerleider here
By Lorraine Foley