Sharon Van Etten released one of this year's best albums with Tramp, and her performance at the Ottobar here in Baltimore this past Thursday proved why she's such a standout. Her voice is angelic but haunting, confident yet shy. During the show, Van Etten's voice echoed the emotional range of highs reminiscent of Roy Orbison, simultaneously projecting an emotional investment in and cool detachment from love. She primarily drew from Tramp throughout the evening, with songs like "Serpents" and "In Line" sounding even more beautiful and impassioned live -- and when a songwriter can turn sorrow into beauty, it's nothing short of magical. There's no doubt Van Etten's strong songwriting is what set the pace at the show, but, again, it was her voice that made the evening especially captivating and memorable. On record, it seems at times as though she's singing at the very limit of her range -- in the best way possible, for the record -- but live it all sounds natural, particularly compelling and filled with an even deeper amount of conviction. The only weak point of the show was Van Etten's decision to end the concert with a few quiet, mellow songs instead of with the epic conclusion she and her three-piece band gave to "Joke or A Lie." But in the end, it hardly detracted from the success of the evening.
