Expectations (Katie Pruitt album)

Expectations is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt, released by Rounder Records on February 21, 2020. The album has received positive reviews from critics. The album is made up of compositions about Pruitt's life. On November 24, 2020, Expectations was nominated for a Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Reception
Album of the Year characterized the critical consensus as a 75 out of 100. For Paste, Eric R. Danton gave Expectations a seven out of 10, praising the emotional depth of the lyrics but criticizing formulaic songwriting and some lyrics that fall flat. Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork gave it the same rating, writing that it has strong arrangements and stately ballads. In Exclaim!, Scott Roos gave it an eight out of 10 for truth-telling lyrics and a "first-rate" band. American Songwriter's Hal Horowitz scored Expectations at four out of five for wise production that accentuates her lyrics, along with a balance of musical genres. Introducing Pruitt for a feature, Kelly McCartney of No Depression, called the release "stunning" and continued, "As an artist’s opening statement, the album is bold and beautiful, impactful and entertaining. It’s an exercise in courage so exquisitely raw that Brown would surely be proud of it." Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone praised Pruitt's "nimble guitar playing" and "elastic voice". NPR's Jewly Hight characterized the album with, "Pruitt's done that with such clarity of expression and disarming intimacy—Expectations is aesthetically warmhearted even in its tensest moments of confrontation—that she's given her own family a greater understanding of her experience".

Track listing
All songs written by Katie Pruitt, except where noted
 * 1) "Wishful Thinking" – 5:10
 * 2) "My Mind's a Ship (That's Going Down)" (Jess Nolan and Pruitt) – 4:00
 * 3) "Expectations" (Ross McReynolds and Pruitt) – 3:55
 * 4) "Out of the Blue" – 5:13
 * 5) "Normal" – 5:12
 * 6) "Grace Has a Gun" – 4:21
 * 7) "Searching for the Truth" – 4:32
 * 8) "Georgia" – 4:11
 * 9) "Loving Her" – 5:04
 * 10) "It's Always Been You" – 5:13

Personnel

 * Katie Pruitt – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, liner notes, production
 * Hank Born – electric guitar
 * Maggie Chaffee – cello
 * David Crutcher – Fender Rhodes, organ, piano
 * Eric Darken – bells, vibraphone
 * Alicia Enstrom – violin
 * Luke Enyeart – electric guitar
 * Laura Epling – violin
 * Alysse Gafkjen – photography
 * Austin Hoke – cello
 * Jedd Hughes – electric guitar
 * Calvin Knowles – bass guitar
 * Betsy Lamb – viola
 * Ross McReynolds – drums, percussion
 * Ian Miller – African bells, Fender Rhodes, keyboards, Mellotron, organ, piano
 * Jess Nolan – backing vocals
 * Jake Ohlbaum – backing vocals
 * Gary Paczosa – engineering
 * Michael Robinson – engineer, production
 * Carrie Smith – design
 * Jake Tudor – viola
 * Kristin Webber – violin
 * Sami Wideberg – artwork
 * Johnny Williamson – electric guitar