Virginia-based artist Caleb L’Etoile has long existed on the edge of indie’s shifting tides, somewhere between folk poet, bedroom art-pop philosopher, and searing rock provocateur. With American Death, released on June 20th, L’Etoile doesn’t toe that line, he emerges with a fearless, genre-warping collection that doubles up as a personal release and ideological blueprint.
American Death was made during a time of political chaos in the U.S.—specifically after Donald Trump returned to office. With that backdrop, Caleb took advantage of his music as a way to lend a voice against growing fascism, the rise of hate, and the way religion and power have been used to harm people. As he puts it, the album is about “evil and greed, human rights, humanity, and home.”
This piece of work American Death is a standout album, and all the pieces came together to perfection. Caleb didn’t write it all at once, he built it piece by piece, releasing songs as he wrote them. He calls it a “living album.” only because the events he was reacting to were still happening in real-time, this open-ended approach lets him stay honest, flexible, and raw and it really shows in the final product which we all get to listen to.
The album kicks off with “Marigold, Your Hair is on Fire”, a song written just days after Trump’s return to office. Caleb describes a feeling of anger, fear, hopelessness and you can hear all of that in the music. The track elevates from a dreamy, art-pop sound into heavier rock and emotional folk, with lyrics like “red with anger” and “blue with grief” capturing that emotional mix perfectly. It’s a solid start to the album.
“Food For My Baby.” paints a dark picture of what seems to be the early days of political collapse with people being rounded up, fear taking over, and the quiet sadness of just trying to survive. The song was written as a love letter to Caleb’s dog, Rory, who he often includes in his music. Rory represents the “baby” in the title; the one thing worth protecting when everything else falls apart.
The message thickens with heavy topics throughout the album, something Caleb does it with pure honesty and creativity. On “Cancer,” the music begins soft and slow with piano, and it builds into an intense, emotional climax. It feels like something terrible creeping in, maybe a disease, maybe a toxic idea, maybe even fear itself. The way the music grows mirrors the way something bad can take hold, slowly and then all at once.
“GOD IS GREATGOOD” is another perfectly delivered track on the album. It commences with spoken-word lyrics before jumping into more upbeat folk rhythms. It calls out the way some people twist religion, claiming to follow Jesus while spreading hate and ignorance. Caleb draws our attention to the hypocrisy which is something he refuses to ignore.
Then there’s “Aw Hell,” which also borders on religion but from a different angle. This track lives in what Caleb calls a “religious trauma/doomsayer genre”. It is the voice of someone trying to make sense of faith in a world that feels broken. The track is emotional, and very real.
Finally, the album closes with “Kerosene,” a fiery track that builds up and up until it explodes with sound. With racing drums and loud guitars, Caleb mixes rock and indie-pop in a way that feels both chaotic and beautiful. Fans of bands like Destroyer and Modest Mouse will feel right at home here, but Caleb’s voice and message give it a unique identity all its own.
This album is a record about humanity despite everything around you being scary and uncertain. It’s about trying to protect the things you love, even when the world feels like it’s going up in flames. It’s about seeing through the lies of power and standing up for what’s right, even when it seems difficult.
In the middle of all that darkness, Caleb finds ways to bring in beauty. It might be through a quiet guitar line, a shimmering keyboard, or a lyric that just hits you right in the chest. American Death is enveloped with vulnerable moments, but also full of strength.
Caleb L’Etoile has created something truly Epic with American Death. It’s emotional. It’s angry. It is beautiful. And most of all, it’s genuine. American Death feels like a time capsule of everything we’re going through right now—fear, injustice, love, confusion and it beckons on the listener to not just hear it, but to feel it and reflect on it’s meaning.
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This is an album that pushes back against silence and apathy. It beckons on you to look around, speak out, and care. In a world where too many people act like nothing is wrong, American Death is a loud, honest voice saying, “Yes, things aren’t right, and I won’t stay quiet about it.”
SOCIAL LINKS
English