We caught Angel Olsen performing this gem in her kitchen last summer, and now comes the studio version 14 months down the road. Having been taken with that live preview, it’s a treat to hear how the Half Way Home version opens up to buoyant bass, harmonies, and percussion while retaining the sparse and intimate apartment vibe of its younger days. Even amid such an upbeat palette, “The Waiting” somehow still cuts into murkier emotions — a testament to Olsen’s stirring vocal approach. The whole 11-song set, available now via Bathetic Records, is a favorite of the year. Revisit “The Waiting” in studio and solo-electric live form above.
