Album Review: Nick Batterham - Self Inflicted No Sympathy

"I keep making the same mistake all over again," says Batterham, over and over, on opener, Dead End.

It's a spirit-sapping thought delivered via a seductive, faintly melodic Stephen Malkmus impression. Batterham's shame — his repeated mistake — repeats and repeats for us too. On the equally catchy As You Are: "I know how these things change, for once if they could stay the same." Making pop music has long been about finding beauty in our blackest moments; mining the depths of our despair for gold. A celebration of sadness beautifully done.