Only as the Day Is Long

Released in 2008 as her debut for the legendary Sub Pop label, Only as the Day Is Long established Sera Cahoone as a premier voice in the 'alt-country' and Americana revival of the late 2000s. Moving away from her background as a drummer for Carissa's Wierd and Band of Horses, Cahoone refined a solo sound that is significantly more hushed and rooted in traditional folk than her previous projects. The album was recorded with a focus on analog warmth and spatial intimacy, prominently featuring the pedal steel work of Jason Sorenson, which provides the record's emotional backbone. Critically, the album was praised for its 'quiet intensity' and its ability to evoke specific rural landscapes. It stands as a pivotal moment in the Sub Pop catalog, representing the label's expansion into more organic, folk-oriented sounds during that era. The track 'Baker Lake' and the title track remain quintessential examples of her ability to blend narrative songwriting with atmospheric production.