10.0 | Independent on Sunday
Her self-produced fourth album executes another dramatic confidence leap
10.0 | Pretty Much Amazing
As remarkable as Van Etten’s vocal work often is, it has always been a strength of hers; the real development comes in her use of dynamics
10.0 | The Arts Desk
Van Etten chose to take production duties into her own hands. The result is something so intimate, and so honest, that it at once feels rude to listen to but at the same time impossible to tear yourself away from
9.5 | Paste Magazine
Are We There doesn’t lack for superlatives, but perhaps the most impressive thing about the album is that it illustrates the scope of Van Etten’s talent
9.1 | A.V. Club
Are We There offers an artist in full command of her voice and her instrument
9.1 | Consequence Of Sound
Are We There functions best as the portrait of an artist coming into her own, while hopefully putting some of her demons to rest
9.0 | Loud And Quiet
Her elegant approach to emotionally candid lyricism is nimbly matched by the sound of the record throughout
9.0 | The Line Of Best Fit
For sheer consistency and confidence Are We There is Van Etten’s best yet
9.0 | Drowned In Sound
One of the most vivid, involving, troubling albums about the trials of love in recent memory
9.0 | Clash
A truly fascinating listen
9.0 | Uncut
Proving her mettle as a singular songwriter not afraid to hold hot coals with bare hands
9.0 | The 405
This is not a breakup album, it’s so much more than that. It is a place of solace and of memory, some memories pleasurable and others unbearably painful
9.0 | Beardfood
She will make you cry, but there’s always a smile through the tears
9.0 | No Ripcord
Her pain, her flaws, her confidence and her laughter make her one of the most relatable songwriters around today, as human as the rest of us
9.0 | Earbuddy
Without her shyness holding her back it seems that her sonic innovation knows no bounds, making her future work an incredibly exciting prospect indeed
8.5 | Crack
An excellent record and one that is further testament to Van Etten’s considerable talent
8.2 | Pitchfork
Even as she has settled into a successful solo career, Van Etten continues to write incisively about the volatility of love, with no loss of urgency or investment
3.0 | Manafonistas
The mainstream of confessional songwriting has found its new queen. But, as it quite too often happens with kings and queens, courtlife can bore you to death