Ty Segall – Possession

Ty Segall’s Possession finds the prolific songwriter exploring a richer, more expansive palette while retaining the emotional core of his work. Across ten tracks, the album blends glam-rock flair, psychedelic textures, orchestral instrumentation, and punchy hooks to create a sound that feels both retrospective and forward-looking. Co-written with Matt Yoka, the lyrics evoke cinematic narratives and character studies—tales of compulsion, desperation, and longing—while Segall’s arrangements subtly shift from intimate piano lines to swelling brass, strings, and fuzz-toned explosions. The result is an album that rewards repeated listens: layered, ambitious, and full of contrasts.

While Possession marks a departure from the raw immediacy of some of his garage-rock roots, it showcases Segall’s growth as a songwriter and arranger. He demonstrates control over dynamics and space, choosing when to be bold and when to let a melody breathe. Tracks like “Shoplifter” and “Another California Song” anchor the record’s more adventurous flourishes with strong hooks and emotional weight, making Possession one of Segall’s most accessible and compelling releases to date.

Reviews

“On ‘Possession,’ Segall takes what initially sounds like an electro-convulsed ‘Ziggy Stardust’ and slowly refashions it into a brass-driven epic …” – Pitchfork

“After three minutes and 13 seconds of Possession ’s title track, Segall drops his very own ‘woo!’ … that this complicated rock classicist has hit on a more direct mode of expression.” – Mojo

“A surreal road trip through Ty Segall’s widescreen vision—melodic, cinematic, and strikingly alive.” – The Fire Note

“A track-by-track dive … where glam, prog, and orchestral pop collide in one of his most rewarding albums in years.” – New Noise Magazine

“With sweeping movements of strings and horns … it’s perhaps no surprise that Segall took that angle with Possession … he ended up making arguably his most inviting, if not accessible, work to date.” – Treble