Tara Beier - Mourning Doves of Joshua Tree

​Tara Beier

Mourning Doves of Joshua Tree
self-released; 2025

TOP ALBUM

By Dan Weston

Tara Beier’s Mourning Doves of Joshua Tree feels like the kind of album where personal grief turns into something luminous. Written after the loss of her grandmother and shaped by time spent in the desert, it circles themes of mourning, renewal, and the uncanny presence of doves, which in some traditions represent loved ones who never fully leave. That sense of lingering spirit runs through the whole record, and while the lyrical weight is heavy, the music itself often feels buoyant. Beier pulls from alternative folk and Americana, but she is not afraid to blur the edges, pulling in shades of post punk, southern gothic, and straight up rock.

The opener, “Desert Soul,” immediately grabbed me. There is something about the vocal delivery that gave me Blondie flashbacks, and the reverb soaked guitars tilt the whole thing toward post punk. It is sharp, dynamic, and unexpectedly catchy. “Lost Brother” pushes into darker territory with grooves that sink in right away and production choices that feel strange but smart. The hook is undeniable. When “Rainbow” arrives, the guitars shimmer, and the song feels wrapped in a soft glow. It is one of the most memorable tracks here, a moment that carries real warmth.

“I Close the Door” leans into a southern gothic mood, which happens to be one of my favorite directions a song can take. The atmosphere is darker and more brooding, and Beier’s delivery heightens it. “Rocketdyne” works in a different way, built on tight grooves and a chorus that sticks without overreaching. Both tracks show her range, the ability to go shadowy without losing accessibility.

Later, the record stretches further into Americana with “Lost in Death Valley,” a song that reminded me of Big Thief in its quiet weight. “Mourning Dove” feels brighter, with guitars that practically sparkle around a melodic vocal line. “Shooting Star” cuts closer to straightforward rock, while “Wild Rejoice” fuses southern gothic moodiness with rock momentum.

What stands out to me is how cohesive Mourning Doves of Joshua Tree feels even while it shifts styles. The flow never breaks, and the variations keep it from falling into sameness. The songwriting is strong front to back, the performances land, and the production balances clarity with atmosphere. I walked away feeling like this was not just a personal catharsis for Beier but also her most complete artistic statement so far. For me, it is one of those records that earns repeat listens and easily sits among the year’s best.

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