Ethel Cain – ‘Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You’ Review: A Heartbreaking Descent Wrapped in Love

An emotionally charged journey through Ethel Cain's haunting prequel album, showcasing love amid devastation and loss.

When your debut album ends with your alter ego brutally murdered and singing from beyond the grave, you might wonder—what’s next? Hayden Anhedönia, the gifted artist behind Ethel Cain, faced this exact challenge after her 2022 debut Preacher’s Daughter. With fans hanging on every eerie, spiritual note and her personal life under the spotlight, expectations for her follow-up soared. Now, with Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, she delivers a haunting prequel that delves deeper into the fragile teenage years of her complex protagonist. Spoiler: it’s devastating, tender, and utterly unforgettable.

Picking Up From a Dark Beginning

The first album left us grappling with Ethel’s violent death and ghostly lament, so where could the story possibly go? Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You rewinds the clock. This time, we meet Ethel Cain as a vulnerable teenager, caught in the throes of love, envy, and despair. The album’s softest yet most emotionally raw offering, it begins with the track “Janie,” where Ethel pleads,

“Please don’t leave me / I’ll always need more / Please leave open your most quiet door.”

This opening sets the tone—an aching desire for connection that underpins the entire record.

A Glimpse of Pop Amid the Darkness

If you’re expecting the brooding atmosphere of Ethel Cain’s past work, the shimmering, somewhat upbeat “Fuck Me Eyes” might surprise you. It’s the album's sole foray into pop territory—a glittery, doomed karaoke ballad that feels like Bette Davis Eyes filtered through the surreal lens of Twin Peaks. This track is a bittersweet highlight, where Ethel reveals her envy of a high school girl who “goes to church straight from the clubs,” embodying the complicated, often contradictory emotions of youth.

Tenderness Breaking Through Tragedy

One of the most striking aspects of this album is the way it balances softness with emotional violence. Traditionally, Ethel Cain’s music served major-key melodies that masked profound heartbreak beneath earthy instrumentals. The sprawling eight-minute country ballad “Nettles” is a perfect example—it’s a slow, deliberate unfolding of unconditional love despite pain:

“We were in a race to grow up / Yesterday, through today, ’til tomorrow / But when the plant blew up / A piece of shrapnel flew and slowed that part of you.”

Here, Anhedönia allows tenderness to shine not as a precursor to tragedy, but as a powerful force standing firm through it.

A Slow Descent Into Emotional Purgatory

As the album progresses, it feels like a slow-moving train toward emotional purgatory. Tracks like “Dust Bowl,” “A Knock at the Door,” and “Tempest” offer unflinching glimpses into Ethel’s spiraling self-hatred and despair:

“Don’t ask me why I hate myself / As I’m circling the drain / ’Cause death, it takes too long / And I can’t wait.”

These songs, paired with three minimalist drone interludes, evoke the haunting beauty of southern landscapes—sun-drenched yet desolate, much like the characters who inhabit them.

The Bittersweet End of a Chapter

The closing track, “Waco, Texas,” is a resigned acceptance of emptiness. Yet, it hints at a fragile hope that Willoughby—Ethel’s lost love—might one day return. It’s a somber, almost hopeless close, but it’s not nihilism that drives this album. Instead, it’s a testament to the overwhelming, sacrificial love Hayden Anhedönia holds for her character, even as she endures immense suffering.

If this truly marks the final chapter of Ethel Cain’s saga, it’s hard to imagine a more heartfelt farewell.

Album Details

• Release date: August 8, 2025
• Record label: Daughters of Cain Records

Wrapping Up Ethel's Story With Love and Pain

Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You is a masterclass in balancing tenderness and heartbreak. Hayden Anhedönia dives into the emotional abyss of a teenage Ethel Cain, guiding listeners through love’s devastating effects without losing sight of its fragile beauty. This album isn’t just a prequel—it’s a deeply personal, raw, and haunting exploration of devotion and despair that feels like a whispered secret between friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the theme of Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You?
  It centers on teenage Ethel Cain's journey through love, envy, and emotional suffering, acting as a prequel to her earlier story.
• How does this album differ from Preacher’s Daughter?
  This record is softer musically but much more emotionally violent, focusing on tenderness amid tragic circumstances.
• Which track stands out as the pop moment on the album?
  “Fuck Me Eyes” offers a glittery, doomed pop ballad feel, standing apart from the otherwise slowcore and country tones.
• Are there any visual or video components related to the album?
  Yes, the official visualizer for “Nettles” is available on YouTube, adding a captivating visual layer to the sprawling ballad.
• Is this album the conclusion of Ethel Cain’s narrative?
  It appears to be the final chapter, offering a heartfelt closure to the saga.

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