Rhiannon Giddens - Hope Is the Thing with Feathers (2026)
A warm and beautifully performed folk album that brings together several American musical traditions, but one where I find the performances more memorable than the songs themselves.
Hope Is the Thing with Feathers takes Rhiannon Giddens back to her musical roots, combining traditional folk, old-time, blues and gospel with some more contemporary arrangements. Recorded largely live in the studio, the album has a very natural sound, with banjo, fiddle, guitars and accordion giving plenty of space to the voices and the interaction between musicians.
“Carolina Rain” is my favourite track. I particularly enjoy its more developed arrangement, the warm melody and the way the different instruments work together. The addition of drums, bass and slide guitar gives it a stronger sense of movement, making it one of the most immediately enjoyable songs on the album.
The title track is another good moment, with a simple melody and an intimate interpretation of Emily Dickinson's words. “Wish in Vain” has some emotional depth, while “Freight Train” is an enjoyable reinterpretation of Elizabeth Cotten's classic. “Cluck Old Hen” brings more energy, and “Walk with Me” benefits from some lovely vocal harmonies.
What works best is the spontaneity of the performances. The musicians sound comfortable playing together, and the production preserves that atmosphere without trying to polish everything. Giddens' voice is excellent throughout, moving naturally between powerful passages and more delicate moments.
My main problem is that I don't find the songwriting consistently engaging. Some of the traditional material is interesting from a historical perspective, but the songs themselves don't always leave much of an impression. The arrangements are occasionally too restrained, and several tracks remain in a similar acoustic and emotional register.
I appreciate the sincerity of the project and the way Giddens connects different musical traditions without making it feel like an academic exercise. It's a pleasant album with some beautiful moments, but I don't think there's enough musical variety or enough standout songs to make me want to return to it very often.
65/100
❤️ Favourite track: “Carolina Rain”
+ Excellent vocals and collective musicianship
+ Warm, natural production and acoustic arrangements
+ Interesting combination of folk, blues and gospel
– Uneven songwriting and few memorable melodies
– Some arrangements feel overly restrained
– Limited variety and replay value
Genre: Americana
Country: US
Final Verdict: 65% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 291th / 741
Highlight: Carolina Rain
Made me think of:
Allison Russell
Gillian Welch
Valerie June
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