Become You

Released in 2002, Become You represents a significant 'back-to-basics' pivot for the Indigo Girls following the more polished and eclectic production of 1999's Come On Now Social. Recorded primarily in their home base of Atlanta, the album strips away the guest-heavy, experimental layers of its predecessor in favor of a cohesive, band-oriented sound that highlights their signature vocal interplay. Critics, notably AllMusic, praised the record for its warmth and the strength of its songwriting, viewing it as a return to the duo's core strengths. The album features a blend of Amy Ray's more gritty, Southern-inflected rock sensibilities and Emily Saliers' intricate, melodic folk compositions. Notable for its use of regional imagery - from the 'Bitterroot' to the 'Lacandon' - the record functions as a travelogue of both physical and emotional landscapes. It solidified their status as independent-minded stalwarts of the Americana scene during a period when the folk-rock genre was shifting toward more commercial pop-oriented sounds.