Pitchfork

Rosie Thomas is an eccentric gal. The alter-egos, the intricate handmade tour merchandise, and the practical jokes have always been a jarring juxtaposition to her breathy, dead-serious music. It's an off-putting combination for some-- I mean, Low is Low all the way through; they don't take a juggling break mid-set.

"Much Farther to Go" was the first track available (in streaming form) on Thomas' website from her Rosie Thomas and Friends project. Here, she stays earnest and tragic from start to finish-- at least two people cry during the song, not to mention the silent tears special guest Sufjan Stevens cries when he thinks about the weight of the world, all the lonely children, etc. Stevens' and Thomas' voices intertwine beautifully; they're each too delicate and trembly to stand alone, but they hug together for warmth against the sparse instrumentation. Egg shaker, banjo and guitar accompany their voices, but it's Thomas' snowflake-light vocals that truly guide the song.

The song begins with a train ride in Brooklyn, where she and a friend "...saluted the statue of liberty," then delves farther back in time, singing to her mother, then to L.A. where those memories combine. As always her voice is evocative-- you can imagine the view from the above-ground train, the quiet winter, the cold bed, and she and Stevens giving Liberty a playful salute.