Sun Mar 20 2022
2
It's just Don Henley as performed by the Killers. I've never understood the hype.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
2014
- Album Summary
Lost in the Dream is the third studio album by American indie rock band The War on Drugs, released on March 18, 2014 through Secretly Canadian. The recording session, which took place over a two-year period, was characterized by numerous rewrites. The album's lyrical themes were influenced by the loneliness and depression Granduciel faced after he finished touring. Musically, the record was inspired by 1980s rock, as well as Americana, with influences coming from Bruce Springsteen, Spacemen 3 and Neil Young & Crazy Horse. The album debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 and received universal acclaim from critics upon its release, appearing on and topping numerous end-of-year lists of the best albums. Five promotional radio singles were released: "Red Eyes", "Under the Pressure", "Burning", "Eyes to the Wind", and "An Ocean in Between the Waves".
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!
Sort by:
Top
Date
Tue Dec 21 2021
2
I was excited after reading their extremely pretentious description on Spotify but the result is underwhelming. I was really hoping for some genre bending/blending, instead it's just a dylan/orbison/petty not-quite coverband that delves into sound scapes ala Wilco meets Brian Eno. Clearly skilled at recording and arrangement, but the drums are the same on every track (just different speed) and it kills the vibe for me. It ends up sounded very bland and kinda boring. It leans way too heavily on a Tom Petty/Orbison wilburys vibe for me. THere are moments where I'm excited for what might be coming only to be disappointed by the same bland pop beat, again.
Wed Jan 26 2022
2
Snore on drugs đŽ
Tue Mar 22 2022
5
I listened to this album as I went for a walk. As the last song ended, the sun was setting. It was beautiful. This type of music is right up my alley, and I was not at all disappointed.
Fri Apr 01 2022
2
I really like the song "Red Eyes". The problem with these guys is that every song used the same template, chords, production values....everything. If you've heard one song, you've heard them all.
Sat Apr 16 2022
5
Iâm quite proud of the legacy of music my Baby Boomer generation shared; but, the riches didnât stop with us. The next time I hear a Boomer grouse about the pitiful state of contemporary music, Iâm going to sit âem down, tape their mouth shut, and put on 'Lost In The Dream,' preferably with headphones, and turned up loud. Where has this band been, I began to ask, then aimed it at myself as well: where have I been? Iâm no conscientious objector regarding the original war on drugs. I chose my side years ago. But apparently, these young comrades have been fighting on the same side, just over the hill and across the valley. Who knew the locations of our tours of duty were so close? âHavenât lost it all, my friend, just a bit run down at the moment. Yeah, Iâm living alone in here, living in darkness (âEyes to the Windâ).â Lest you think thatâs depression talking, or at least predominantly so, I believe lyricist and vocalist Adam Granduciel actually intends this lyric to be heard as a recognition of the value of periodic times of withdrawal for a little r&r, rest and recovery. And the music itself, not only in this song, but throughout the entire album is similarly restful, and beautiful, and optimistic in spite of the struggles life sometimes demands from us. There are notes of Dylan (both Bob and Jacob), Sigur Ros, early Dire Straits, Pink Floyd (right in the 1970s sweet spot), and the ambient works of artists like Steve Roach and Brian Eno. 'Lost In The Dream' is perfectly titled. And the band is patient with itself, taking time for the songs to develop. Great care has obviously been taken to pace things unhurried. Along with Granducielâs sublime arrangements, the recording crew should all be given Grammys for their work. The mixing on this thing was superb, dozens of instruments (pedal steel, baritone sax, Leslie guitar, fretless bass, synths, âlittle tinkling bellsâ sounding guitar?, to name a few) floating in and out, like waves breaking, then receding on the beach. In fact, the final track even features the sounds of crashing waves. Some of the songs offer downtempo deliciousness, like melted caramel in your ears, while others are more uptempo but never busy. The swirl of sounds is simply breathtaking. This would be wonderful to listen to on a long drive, but Iâd rather be the passenger, so I could immerse myself in itâs atmospheric glory. Lyrically, Granduciel seems to be mostly dealing with themes of weariness and depression. I understand this LP was composed following almost a year of touring, and having a hard time adjusting to life off the road, he later recounted that he began âto spiral into emotional distress and physical manifestations of depression and paranoia.â Thatâs definitely felt in spite of the fact that some of the lyrics are rather surreal, and donât lend themselves to immediate interpretation, but thatâs not a bad thing at all. Like the music itself, the lyrics require some patience to ponder. From âSufferingâ: âWhy be here when weâre both gonna fake it anyway? No more try to hear killing your goal mean I can be bigger than the tones in the moments of suffering.â Some of the word pictures he paints are like brushes across a canvas- this one from âAn Ocean In Between the Wavesâ: âIâm at the darkened hillside and thereâs a haze right between the trees, and I can barely see you. Youâre like an ocean in between the waves.â I was about half way through the LP when I noticed that Granduciel isnât really concerned with rhyme. Nor is he particularly careful about pitch perfect. He sometimes slides up to a note, ala Dylan. Sometimes the vocals are near lost in the mix, heavily effected, but others clear as a bell. It all works. I believe heâs partly addressing his relationship with a lover (ex? current?) on quite a few of these songs, but also, perhaps, the relationship with his own spirit. He concludes the LP with this gem: âI donât mind you disappearing when I know you can be found⊠Iâll be here or Iâll fade away. Never cared about moving, never cared about now, not the notes Iâm playing. Is there room in the dark, in between the changes? Like a light thatâs drifting, in reverse Iâm moving.â Iâll be pondering that for the remainder of the day, but my immediate thought is that heâs struggling to practice a healthy detachment with regards to external circumstances (rather than bitter resignation or dulled apathy), in an effort to dig deeper inside and rescue his wounded, retreated spirit. It is possible to find the inner peace and joy that lives within each one of us in the midst of troubled and sorrowful circumstances. And when he finds that inner spirit, and his music suggests heâs probably already on the right path, then he will be unbreakable, even âunder the pressure.â (The title of the first song.) Fellow (& sister) Boomers, hear me: 'Dark Side Of The Moon' is one of my (and our) favorite LPS of all time. 'Lost In The Dream' is every bit as good; maybe, in some ways, even better.
Sun Jan 30 2022
2
The same drums at different speeds, that kind of bleh feeling to it, just not for me.
Mon Jan 31 2022
2
Maybe I'm a grouch today. This isn't terrible but it's not doing much for me, I can't ever imagine choosing to listen to it again, and I'm feeling some resentment about listening to it. It's got a very strong Bryan Adams/Don Henley vibe and honestly I'd rather listen to one of them because then at least there'd be some nostalgia involved.
Thu Apr 21 2022
2
All very pleasant but ultimately one dimensional
Wed Jan 19 2022
5
Hey, isn't this song on that show about the horse from Horsin' Around? 'Under the pressure' started off the album strong for me. Overall pretty much my favorite kind of music to listen to while working.
Mon Jan 31 2022
5
This album was warm and perfect for the day and has become more and more appealing with each listen. It does have a pensive 80s vibe and has little hints of the decade (most notably for me with "Burning" reminding me of Rod Stewart's "Young Turks"). I guess that's why it does have a nostalgic feel to it while also feeling quite spot on for today. I like all the moods presented here, so it is hard to pick a favorite representative track.
Thu Dec 16 2021
2
War on 'meh'
Wed Mar 02 2022
2
Don't think this will age well. 2.5/5
Mon Feb 28 2022
1
Oh stop
Fri Apr 22 2022
4
Pretty good but one of the 1,001???
Wed Dec 15 2021
3
And I thought Metallica's songs were long! This was a relaxing album but felt very long in the tooth. I could see it being great as background music while working but when focusing on it, there's a lot of empty space. Also the singer sounds like Bob Dylan. This is basically just Bob Dylan in space.
Wed Jan 26 2022
2
Nice but fairly uninspiring.
Wed May 11 2022
2
I didnât love this album, but didnât hate it. Seemed like easy listening for aging indie rockers. Somehow, I felt like I was listening to Don Henleyâs greatest hits. Which isnât a terrible thing, butâŠ.
Wed Apr 13 2022
1
So far I hate this, it's boring AF. I don't understand why it's as popular as is seems to be, or why it's even on this list tbh.
Thu Jul 21 2022
1
The album as a whole felt quite same to me. No track in particular stood out as something fresh and different, mostly just a similar song with a different tempo. Overall pretty disappointing sadly
Thu Dec 16 2021
5
EmpecĂ© a escuchar a The War On Drugs apenas este verano por una rola en vivo que me saliĂł en algĂșn discovery o algo asĂ y me latieron mucho (aunque sĂ© que ya alguien me los habĂa recomendado hace mucho). Luego agreguĂ© este disco a mi biblioteca, porque es el mĂĄs popular, y desde entonces lo he oĂdo muchas veces porque me gusta muchĂsimo. Por un lado, la voz melancĂłlica y un poco rasposa, como un Bob Dylan mĂĄs afinado, o un Bryan Adams mĂĄs joven, me parece que cuadra perfecto con la mĂșsica que es eterea sin llegar a aburrida. Las rolas tienen subidas y bajadas y momentos que jalan toda mi atenciĂłn a guitarras que parecen sencillas pero no por eso son planas. Creo que, de las cosas contemporĂĄneas que ha tenido la lista es por mucho la que mĂĄs me ha gustado.
Tue Jan 04 2022
5
Fantastic TWOD record.
Wed Jan 26 2022
5
Wonderful from start to finish
Wed Jan 26 2022
5
Absolute stone cold classic
Thu Apr 06 2023
5
Give me a whiskey sour and sit me on a front porch somewhere so I can contemplate the decisions I've made in life. Granduciel and company care so much about the production going into their work. I would argue most TWoD material wouldn't be nearly as impactful without the level of care and attention put into every element of the tracks. I also think this is a perfect record for a younger fan trying to expand their horizons on some older classic rock. The pop influences folks like of Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and Grateful Dead are there without the attempt to emulate those bands. This is what influence should sound like.
Tue Jul 19 2022
2
If it's raining, and a nap is necessary, this might be a fit. Rather dull.
Wed Oct 19 2022
1
Booooooooring
Mon Jan 31 2022
5
Incredible. No one knows how to build-up a song like The War on Drugs.
Sun Mar 20 2022
5
An amazing album I havenât heard of the band before but the album is very good good with a lot of great songs and an album I highly recommend
Thu Jan 06 2022
5
I must have some form of OCD. I'll get obsessed with an album for a few weeks and listen to constantly. This one of them. Bob Dylan blended with Jamtronica. Great stuff and from Philly.
Tue May 30 2023
5
Such an awesome album that you can listen to in many different situations. Love the combination between slower and faster songs. The guitar and drums play so well together to always keep the song moving along. And the singer, who's name I can't remember, has a voice that goes so well with the sound
Mon Dec 04 2023
4
This album is REALLY good, I enjoyed just about every song. My only complaint is they can drag on for a bit too long
Tue May 30 2023
2
cool at first but gets boring. self indulgent (songs are long af) and every song pretty much sounds the same. lyrics are ok. the lead front man has that punchable pursed lip face that says, ya iâm so fucking brilliant and deep. nah not really bro. your band is mid. while it isnât at all memorable it certainly isn't bad either; itâs something thatâd be good to listen to during a fever..itâs relaxing and guiltless to fall asleep to cuz you wouldnât be missing out on much.
Thu Dec 16 2021
5
Prachtig album. Hedendaagse indie-psychedelische Rock. Ik vond het al een topplaat bij het uitkomen, en nu dus nog altijd
Wed Dec 22 2021
5
Great american rock album. deep, contemplative, emotional.
Thu Dec 23 2021
5
Holy shit it's so good
Sun Jan 02 2022
5
What a surprise! Loved this!
Thu Jan 27 2022
5
â Hop lĂ la 6eme Ă©toile ! En voyant un album d'1h j'avais un peu la flemme, mais en fait c'Ă©tait une des meilleures heures de 2022 pour l'instant donc c'est OK. En plus certains sons sont respirables (sav). AprĂšs, mes titres likĂ©s c'est Suffering, Disappearing et The Haunting Idle, je sais pas trop comment l'interprĂ©ter.
Thu Jan 27 2022
5
Ăa me rappelle quand j'Ă©tais heureux
Sat Jan 29 2022
5
muuuito bom!
Fri Feb 04 2022
5
Daydream-y, melodic and melancholic.
Wed Feb 09 2022
5
Chill AF
Mon May 02 2022
5
First time of listening, great faux Dylan lyrical style, loved the whole album.
Sat May 21 2022
5
5 stars
Tue May 24 2022
5
I was shocked to see this make the list. I love this album and itâs hard to determine if I prefer this one or a deeper understanding. They are both great, smooth instrumentals to a t. I canât and do listen to this album all the time. 9.0/10
Tue May 31 2022
5
9/10. This was really nice, I'd like to relisten when I have more time to listen to the lyrics
Thu Jun 16 2022
5
IĆĄla bi u rat za ovaj album. Al na droge
Fri Jul 08 2022
5
A nostalgic ode to 80s rock that's as inspired and well executed as the artists that came before it.
Sun Jul 10 2022
5
ĐŃĐ”ĐșŃĐ°ŃĐœĐŸ.
Thu Jul 14 2022
5
Like driving through the desert at night, in the summer
Mon Jun 06 2022
5
When you're great, everyone wants to dim your shine. Sure, they can call it Dad rock or whatever. They can say it's derivative. They're all wrong. The haters. I've seen Under the Pressure played live. And it has evolved from this early album. It is much glossier now than this bare bones version. "I'm in my finest hour. Can I be more than just a fool?" Yeah man. You are alright. The Haunting Idle is a truly epic intro and then, it leaves you there idling like a chef who uses the precisely correct amount of salt and leaves you hungry. And then Burning comes in like Rod Stewart in Young Turks and I am second guessing my defense of their originality, but then it meanders elsewhere.. Technically some of the most persuasive guitar sounds and crisp drum work from a currently working band. War on Drugs will be a band our children will know and respect. They will listen to it to try to understand who we were. This album is a great example of why I love music.
Mon Jul 25 2022
5
An album for a specific mood, feels like a soundtrack to a great movie
Mon Jul 25 2022
5
Wow, what a mellow yet beautiful walk through this mystical soundscape. Deep and rich with an almost trance-like peace. Track 5 titled, âDisappearingâ was my favorite.
Mon Aug 08 2022
5
This is one of those albums that makes this project so ace - I had only a vague notion of The War on Drugs (the band) prior to this recommendation. Pulsating, haunting indie rock, right up my street. Boom!
Sat Aug 13 2022
5
I love this album. I listened to it a lot growing up and holds a special place in my heart. (This sounded cringe for some reason)
Mon Aug 15 2022
5
I already had a bunch of these songs in my favourites. Nice to listen to the album
Thu Aug 25 2022
5
Probably a 4.5 but I love this album / band soâŠ.
Thu Aug 25 2022
5
idk yet
Sat Aug 27 2022
5
Good for daytime listening
Mon Aug 29 2022
5
"Standing in the wake of our pain." This album is about the journey down the slope beyond the peak of some past trauma. The acknowledgement that something painful has happened, and there's no point denying it, but we're going to make it through. Ride this out with me. Life is worth it. It approaches the pain of the past, not with denial, but with warmth. And hey, maybe we'll experience pain again, but we can learn from it, and take strength from it. "we won't get lost inside it all again" Cross the bridge To redefine your pain Then the answer is in your heart Wide awake I rearrange the way I listen in the dark Dreaming of starting up again Musically there isn't really anything in the way of hooks. You won't have any catchy choruses in your head after a couple of listens. I imagine this won't be a popular album on this project. Everything just flows into each other. If you're trying to listen to everything once in your lunch break or something, and you're not feeling it, this will just pass you by. If you are feeling it though, you can catch the mood that this album puts out any time you want, and it won't get old. These aren't songs with a verse sticky taped onto a chorus, and oh here comes that verse again, oh yep chorus now, oh gosh it's middle eight time! These songs grow and evolve over their life. You don't become too overly familiar with any one component after a handful of listens. There is texture and evolution. This gives this album a longevity that a lot of catchy pop albums won't have (and I love a catchy pop album, don't get me wrong). This is also why the song length doesn't matter too much. They're not trying to constantly repackage the same riff or vocal hook or change or whatever. The songs flow like a river. It's the same theme, but that water isn't coming back upstream, it's gone. It's about the journey and the motion. Elements are introduced and other elements fade away, not with dramatic changes, but with a kind of natural feeling imperceptibility. You notice the mood change more than you notice the elements that go into it. More than most of the albums we've had so far, this is best experienced "as an album". The songs flow into each other. If you're listening on something that doesn't add annoying gaps of silence between songs, the way that The Haunting Idle flows into Burning is amazing. Good album imo.
Fri Sep 02 2022
5
Great vibe, love the whole album.
Thu Sep 08 2022
5
All time favourite
Wed Sep 14 2022
5
love. v chill
Fri Sep 16 2022
5
Another perfect distillation of the defining sound of the mid 20s - it made us feel it all, in earnest. It's hard to know what a decade will sound like until you're well and truly planted in the next. I can tell you what the 80s sounded like, I can tell you what the 90s sounded like, and maybe this is what I'll tell you the 20s sounded like.
Mon Oct 03 2022
5
Love!
Tue Oct 04 2022
5
Let me take you back in time, to the mid 90s. After suffering through "liking" music because everyone else thought it was cool (C&C Music Factory, anyone?) and then veering towards my dorm mates' penchant for early 90s hippy tunes (Phish, anyone?), one summer I discovered CD101, the new alternative station in Columbus, OH. It was sooo cool - nothing but new alternative. Low budget, but it wasn't 'corporate'. It was a DJ hanging out somewhere actually playing tracks off CDs (or so we were led to believe). They had the Andyman-athon at Christmas, and sponsored the Blue Jackets New Year's Eve event (hockey + swing dancing, awesome!). There was nothing cooler than having the oval CD101 sticker on your car. My point? Well, it was music like this. 10 years earlier, of course, but like this. You felt cool. You felt plugged in. Cranking that radio with the windows down, cruising down I-70 around the Miller-Kelton exchange on your way back from the Howl at the Moon Saloon (dueling pianos, anyone?) with the coolest tunes blaring. Man, that was the life. Then, the crapfest of the late 90s and early aughts intervened, and man that was bad. But around 2010 it the feeling started to come back - the music, at least some music, got good again. I wasn't hearing it on Mix 101, of course (the very definition of corporate radio, they ain't no CD101), but I grabbed a few of Amazon's free songs of the day, and it came roaring back. "It's been a year" by Greg Laswell. "Walk on Water" by Bad Lieutenant (the dudes from New Order). "Born Losers" by Matthew Good - holy cow. "When the lights come on this whole place gets ugly; but when they're out strangers fall in love...New Order's on the turn table we're dancing; cause what else do you do when you don't talk?". Damn. Even "Babylon" by David Gray. That's what this reminds me of. I didn't think anything could unseat Janelle as my favorite album from this so far, but The War on Drugs has done it. Hey Mix101, how's about a little less Sam Smith and a little (lot) more of this? 5/5
Fri Oct 14 2022
5
The tones! The toooooones!!!!
Tue Oct 18 2022
5
Dreamy, sad, emotional, lovely, this is a very evocative album and a totally unexpected delight. Reminiscent of Public Service Broadcasting with live vocals, and a bit Bob Dillony in places, it is beautifully crafted, subtle, textured, and chock-full of melody. I couldn't make out many of the lyrics, but for some reason it transported me to a sunset, perhaps over the main stage of a festival or overlooking a harbour full of fishing boats. Atmospheric. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Under the Pressure Date listened: 17/10/22
Sun Oct 23 2022
5
I absolutely love Adam's voice and the soft ethereal folk-rock style that still has a driving energy. This really comes together for me. I've enjoyed this and have just put it on repeat all day.
Tue Oct 25 2022
5
Geweldig. Dit album heeft altijd iets speciaals voor mij. Kan niet precies zeggen wat dat nou is, en ik snap ook de mensen die zeggen dat het saai is, en veel van hetzelfde, maar voor mij werkt het. Red Eyes is een nummer wat heel hoog in mijn lijst van favoriete nummers staat.
Sat Nov 05 2022
5
This album took me somewhere. Soulful and deep. Grateful that it was my first album of this challenge.
Wed Nov 09 2022
5
Every second of this fucks
Sat Nov 19 2022
5
Indie rock, psychedelic rock. Precioso.
Mon Nov 28 2022
5
Yeah, this the one
Tue Nov 29 2022
5
Loved it. Kind of U2 meets Springsteen vibe
Tue Dec 13 2022
5
One of my all time favorites
Tue Dec 13 2022
5
This album can best be described as expansive. The music is a lush soundscape that sounds massive. The songs take time to develop but pay off in huge emotional crescendos. The chord structures are simple, but the melodies are anthemic and the effect is very elevating. In terms of genre, there's a bit of folk, a bit of country, and it is undergirded by an almost 70s style beat. Vocally, the singer reminds me of a more refined Bob Dylan. Overall, this is an incredible album that truly feels like a unified piece of music.
Fri Dec 16 2022
5
The War On Drugs is one of my favorite laid back rock sounds. This album comes from the lead singers battle with depression, so it's VERY laid back. Super good. Enjoyed the whole thing.
Sun Dec 18 2022
5
Really liked it! Will definitely like to listen again.
Tue Jan 03 2023
5
I've heard of the band but never listened. On my first listen I wasn't super impressed but I left it on repeat and some songs popped up again and I was digging it more. I gave it another relisten with fresh ears and I really enjoyed it. Definitely vibes with my tastes after another listen.
Tue Feb 14 2023
5
If you get the chance, try to see The War on Drugs live, they're fantastic
Thu Feb 16 2023
5
One of the best albums from here I've heard in quite a while
Fri Feb 17 2023
5
i mean... its perf. not my exact vibe. but perf regardless
Wed Mar 01 2023
5
One of my favorite albums of all-time
Wed Mar 01 2023
5
Really good! Good album to fall asleep to.
Wed Mar 15 2023
5
I like this melodic thoughtful rock.
Sat Mar 18 2023
5
Wow I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Incredibly musical and rhythmic in most songs, with excellent recording quality. You can easily get lost in these songs. 5 of 5.
Tue Mar 21 2023
5
Just love the driving nature of the beat. One of my favourite artists of the '10s
Thu Apr 06 2023
5
A dream worth both getting lost in and making recurring.
Mon Apr 10 2023
5
Discovered an artist!! Loved getting to know the album
Thu Apr 13 2023
5
Good long chill jam songs
Wed Apr 26 2023
5
Pretty much GOATed. Can't imagine a musical palate that would score this lower than 4 stars. Who is this NOT for? Fuck it's so good. Imma freak if I read the reviews and people are hating
Thu Apr 27 2023
5
This band captivates me in ways I cannot explain. I have always been more of a melody listener than a lyrics listener, and I think that's why I like them so much. The chord progressions stir emotions for me that have little to do with the words. Upon reading the lyrics, they are so abstract that it leaves the listener to interpret or project themselves onto them. As a middle-aged person I have to confess it feels nice to enjoy something so much that was made in the last 10 years.
Fri Apr 28 2023
5
Amazing. I loved it! I loved the instrumentals especially.
Mon May 01 2023
5
Amazing album, one of my faves of the 2010s.
Mon May 08 2023
5
Super cool. I have never heard better.
Tue May 16 2023
5
There had been a breakthrough in regards to the War on Drugs! No but, in all seriousness, this is an amazing record. Every song on here invokes an Americana dreamed up and realized to perfection and not a second spent listening is deemed wasted for over an hour. Lost in the Dream is the kind of music that is made for road trips and everlasting memories and, nearly ten years on, is rightfully considered a classic of modern times (if it has been deemed such).
Wed May 17 2023
5
What a joy to come back to this album. Absolutely holds up and brings me right back to eating Jianbing in Tianjin on cold mornings.
Tue May 23 2023
5
muy cute, me gus
Mon May 29 2023
5
Yeah, you know, lickface