The Best Queer Country Album Just Dropped – Julien Baker & Torres Release 'Send a Prayer My Way'

Nearly a decade in the making, this collaboration draws from their shared experiences as queer women raised in conservative Christian households, crafting songs about addiction, love, and resilience with unflinching honesty.

Tracks like Sugar in the Tank radiate with declarations of queer love, blending pedal steel and twangy harmonies to evoke honky-tonk classics while carving out fresh territory.

Their vocals—Baker’s soft soprano and Torres’ husky alto—merge effortlessly, delivering a sound that’s timeless yet distinctly modern.

The album’s 12 tracks weave a vivid tapestry of storytelling, each song a snapshot of flawed characters navigating heartbreak and redemption.

Dirt tackles addiction with stark clarity, as Baker sings, “Spend your whole life getting clean / Just to wind up in the dirt,” while Tuesday recounts a young romance undone by homophobia, punctuated by a sharp kiss-off: “Tell your momma she can go suck an egg.”

The Independent commends the album’s nod to country traditions, with elegant fiddles and sun-dappled mandolins, yet it avoids feeling like a throwback.

Torres, speaking to UPI, described their songwriting as a true partnership, splitting lyrics evenly and refining them together, which fuels the dynamic interplay in tracks like the lively The Only Marble I’ve Got Left.

Send A Prayer My Way resonates by inviting listeners into its world, extending a hand to those who’ve felt excluded from country’s often rigid norms.

Hot Press calls it a “potent” record, unafraid to challenge oppressive systems while celebrating survival. With production that fuses rootsy Americana with indie-rock nuances, the album bridges past and present, offering a love letter to country that rewrites its narrative. It’s out now, perfect for late-night listens or long drives under a starry sky.