Karen Dahlstrom Love These Days
Some albums immediately reveal the hand of a mature songwriter—someone who has lived, reflected, and distilled experience into craft. Love These Days, the new release from Karen Dahlstrom, is unmistakably one of those records. Its ten songs draw on traditional Americana and folk sensibilities, arranged with understated drums and bass, subtle electric guitar flourishes, tight harmonies, and beautifully judged acoustic textures.
On first listen, I found myself thinking that if Bruce Springsteen had recorded these songs, they would be hailed without hesitation. That comparison isn’t meant to diminish Dahlstrom’s own vocal presence; rather, it highlights how quickly we reach for familiar reference points when encountering a new artist. In truth, Dahlstrom stands comfortably alongside many of the finest female voices in the contemporary folk‑Americana spectrum. Her delivery is assured, expressive, and quietly commanding.
The album’s tone is laid‑back and spacious—very much a Sunday‑morning record—and several tracks linger long after they finish.
“Can’t Help Myself,” “After the Flood,” “Goodbye, Española,” and the exceptional “If I’d Known You” are among the standouts. The latter, inspired by the discovery of belongings left behind by the woman she called her mother, is a candid and brave exploration of regret, memory, and the unknowable parts of those closest to us. Lines such as “Notebooks and the novels that you read / Postcards of places you never went” capture the emotional precision that runs throughout the album.
The title track, “Love These Days,” carries a gentle, Norah Jones‑like lilt—slightly more jazz‑inflected than the rest of the record, and perhaps more conventional in its styling, but still beautifully performed. Dahlstrom has said the song emerged from a desire to reconnect with her jazz roots while tying them to her current folk identity, and that blend is evident.
Across the album, Dahlstrom’s songwriting is thoughtful, unhurried, and deeply human. These songs don’t demand attention; they earn it.
Find more details here: https://karendahlstrom.com/
Musicians on the album are Karen Dahlstrom on vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboard, mandolin, drums, and percussion; Brandon Wilde on bass, electric guitar, keyboard, and drums; Brian Geltner on drums; Annie Nero on upright bass; Andrew Ryan on upright bass; Kenneth Pattengale on vocals and acoustic guitar; Ginger Dolden on violin and viola; and Pete Lanctot on violin, viola, lap steel and guitar.
It was co-producerd by Karen Dahlstrom and Brandon Wilde; recorded and mixed by Brandon Wilde with additional recording by Kenneth Pattengale, Andrew Ryan, Pete Lanctot & Ginger Dolden, Sean Walsh and Kelsey Tadin, and it was mastered by Kimberly Rosen.