Pohorylle

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Pohorylle received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.^[2] In Glide Magazine, John Moore characterized this release as "a remarkable career starting point, that grows more impressive with each listen".^[1] John Mulvey of Mojo gave Pohorylle 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the music initially sounds like straightforward Americana, but as the tracks unfold, Cilker incorporates other influences and "[Cilker]’s not averse to throwing a Dixieland jazz band into the mix", resulting in a "very good" debut.^[3] In No Depression, Maeri Ferguson called Pohorylle "profound" for displaying Cilker's self-exploration in the lyrics and various "sonic capabilities" that have "the prettiest shimmery melodies".^[4] Writing for Pitchfork, Stephen M. Deusner rated Pohorylle a 7.7 out of 10, opining that Cilker wrote country music outside of the genre's mainstream, leading it to "conveys a distinct and lively personality".^[5]

PopMatters' Steve Horowitz considered this release an exploration of femininity and favorably compares the songwriting to The Band, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell.^[6] In a review for Cilker's follow-up Valley of Heart's Delight, Chris DeVille of Stereogum called this album "one of those records that never dredged up a torrential hype storm but became a treasured favorite for many" for presenting "Cilker as a chronicler of the world’s less explored corners, with a knack for smart, funny wordplay and a musical style that blurred the lines between country and folk-rock".^[7] That site also chose this as the fifth best country album of 2021 with "so much unexpected joy and wit", where "Cilker nudges her delivery from matter of fact to a soft warble, drawing you along in conversation, a bunch of songs for the road we’re all trying desperately to navigate".^[8] In Uncut, Rob Hughes scored this album 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting several individual tracks for being "awash with grace, wisdom and allusive wordplay".^[9]

In a 2022 review of a live performance by Cilker, Kitty Empire called Pohorylle "a flawless gem of a record that provided instant succour and the promise of more expansive times to come".^[10]

1. "That River" – 3:09
2. "Kevin Johnson" – 3:24
3. "Broken Arm in Oregon" – 3:47
4. "Flood Plain" – 3:26
5. "Tehachapi" – 3:07
6. "Barbed Wire (Belly Crawl)" – 2:44
7. "Chester's" – 3:37
8. "Brother, Taxman, Preacher" – 2:36
9. "Wine in the World" – 5:34

• Margo Cilker – guitar, vocals
• John Morgan Askew – instrumentation, engineering, mixed
• Sera Cahoone – production
• Sarah Cilker – harmony vocals
• Jenny Conlee – keyboards
• JJ Golden – mastering at Bocce, Vancouver, Washington, United States
• Jason Kardong – pedal steel guitar
• Mirabai Peart – strings
• Kelly Pratt – horns
• Rebecca Young – bass