Lost In The Dream

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.

Snore on drugs 😴

It's just Don Henley as performed by the Killers. I've never understood the hype.

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.

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.

I’m quite proud of the legacy of music my Baby Boomer generation shared; but, the riches didn’t stop with us. The next time I hear a Boomer grouse about the pitiful state of contemporary music, I’m going to sit ‘em 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? I’m 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? ‘Haven’t lost it all, my friend, just a bit run down at the moment. Yeah, I’m living alone in here, living in darkness (‘Eyes to the Wind’).’ Lest you think that’s 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 Granduciel’s 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, ‘little tinkling bells’ 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 I’d rather be the passenger, so I could immerse myself in it’s 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 ‘to spiral into emotional distress and physical manifestations of depression and paranoia.’ That’s definitely felt in spite of the fact that some of the lyrics are rather surreal, and don’t lend themselves to immediate interpretation, but that’s not a bad thing at all. Like the music itself, the lyrics require some patience to ponder. From ‘Suffering’: ‘Why be here when we’re 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.’ Some of the word pictures he paints are like brushes across a canvas- this one from ‘An Ocean In Between the Waves’: ‘I’m at the darkened hillside and there’s a haze right between the trees, and I can barely see you. You’re like an ocean in between the waves.’ I was about half way through the LP when I noticed that Granduciel isn’t 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 he’s 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: ‘I don’t mind you disappearing when I know you can be found… I’ll be here or I’ll fade away. Never cared about moving, never cared about now, not the notes I’m playing. Is there room in the dark, in between the changes? Like a light that’s drifting, in reverse I’m moving.’ I’ll be pondering that for the remainder of the day, but my immediate thought is that he’s 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 he’s probably already on the right path, then he will be unbreakable, even ‘under the pressure.’ (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.

All very pleasant but ultimately one dimensional

The same drums at different speeds, that kind of bleh feeling to it, just not for me.

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.

War on 'meh'

Oh stop

If it's raining, and a nap is necessary, this might be a fit. Rather dull.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Don't think this will age well. 2.5/5

Booooooooring

Pretty good but one of the 1,001???

Nice but fairly uninspiring.

I didn’t love this album, but didn’t hate it. Seemed like easy listening for aging indie rockers. Somehow, I felt like I was listening to Don Henley’s greatest hits. Which isn’t a terrible thing, but….

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

Empecé a escuchar a The War On Drugs apenas este verano por una rola en vivo que me salió en algún discovery o algo así y me latieron mucho (aunque sé que ya alguien me los había recomendado hace mucho). Luego agregué este disco a mi biblioteca, porque es el más popular, y desde entonces lo he oído muchas veces porque me gusta muchísimo. Por un lado, la voz melancólica y un poco rasposa, como un Bob Dylan más afinado, o un Bryan Adams más joven, me parece que cuadra perfecto con la música que es eterea sin llegar a aburrida. Las rolas tienen subidas y bajadas y momentos que jalan toda mi atención a guitarras que parecen sencillas pero no por eso son planas. Creo que, de las cosas contemporáneas que ha tenido la lista es por mucho la que más me ha gustado.

Fantastic TWOD record.

Wonderful from start to finish

Absolute stone cold classic

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.

I don’t believe you need a hook to make good songs, but this album certainly may make you crave one… these reverb pieces go in circles and leave me felling like I have listened to nothing.

Incredible. No one knows how to build-up a song like The War on Drugs.

An amazing album I haven’t heard of the band before but the album is very good good with a lot of great songs and an album I highly recommend

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.

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

I remember when this album came out and cannot believe it’s been 10 years! This album is awesome and very a very different feel. 5/5

Understated atmospheric and melancholy with exactly the right vocal effects perfect for the voice. A masterpeice.

Pure genius!!

This album is REALLY good, I enjoyed just about every song. My only complaint is they can drag on for a bit too long

When I used to listen to BBC 6 music before it went too Hip Hopity Rap Crap, War On Drugs used to feature a lot and so brought them to my attention. I did and still do stream their albums occasionally. So this was a good excuse to renew myself with the band. I have probably streamed this album at some point but obviously not remembering if I did or not it must have been in the background whilst doing other stuff. Listening to the album seriously without distraction I realised how talented this band is. They are very melody centric so it’s no wonder they appeal and are right up my alleyway. The only criticism is that they rarely venture away from the laid back shoe gazing sound but when the time is right I like this. It’s nice to put on an album just wanting to chill or fall asleep to without a big banging number disturbing that ambience by track 3. Definitely an album and band I will continue to listen and invest in. 4/5 2/8/24

The highs of this album were 5*. Really great production and lyrics. The lows were like 2.5 when it got too wall of soundy. So that’s 4, I think. I’m impressed.

I never listened to this, other than Red Eyes, when it was new. Sleepy at times, but overall pretty solid. Very clear Springsteen influence.

Lost in the Dream I’m very aware of The War on Drugs, but I’m not sure if I’ve actually heard any of their songs, although they are the sort of band they play on 6 Music. I was expecting something similar to The National, perhaps a bit plodding and indie-serious, but I found it more rewarding than that National album we had. While it does share some of the same earnestness, it’s more interesting, musically, melodically and atmospherically. While the subject matter isn’t the happiest, there are a lot of upbeat melodies and a relatively joyous vocal delivery. There’s no doubt many of the songs share a similarity to each other, rhythmically many of them are almost identical, just at different tempos, but on repeat listens I started to notice some nice details in the instruments, and some great little pop hooks, like the piano figure and slide on Under the Pressure. Red Eyes really sounds like something, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Again Suffering sounds very familiar, but is a very pleasant tune. An Ocean in Between the Waves in the second half sounds quite like The Chain to me, but again, is a lovely nice song. I really like the 80s percussion and bass sounds on Disappearing, again a nice track. Eyes to the Wind, another very nice track, sounds quite Jackson Browne to me. Big Springsteen vibes on Burning, particularly the yelps, which are very reminiscent of State Trooper Although all 10 songs are worthy of inclusion, some judicious editing of their lengths would probably be welcome. Although I get the atmospheres and drone like grooves they are building, there are a lot of extended echoey and reverby outros (I don’t think Under the Pressure needs to be 8 minutes for example) so the whole record feels a little long at an hour. Lost in the Dream is also another very tasteful and nicely done track, the harmonica back in the mix is really lovely. And In Reverse is another very nice song, with a well crafted atmosphere and some very nice little musical moments and hooks. Looking back, it seems as though every track reminds me of someone else, but I don’t think that's a negative, sometimes it just works to borrow some good bits from some great artists and mix them all up. I liked this. I don’t think it’s quite in the Wilco or My Morning Jacket bracket for atmospheric songscapes and textures or variety and inventiveness, with many of the songs on here tending towards being nice, tasteful and pleasantly catchy, rather than emotionally or musically dramatic and affecting. But that niceness has its place, and in this case it’s very well done, with more than enough musical subtlety, nuance and skill to stop it being anywhere near bland, and I’d definitely listen again, perhaps when autumn comes. It’s on the cusp of 3 and 4, but I’ll go 4 as it’s a very nice album. 💉💉💉💉 Playlist submissions: All would be fine, but I did like Burning and An Ocean Between the Waves in particular. I’ll go Burning.

Dreamy pop rock. This isn’t an original thought but this album reminds me of Dire Straits. Love Under the Pressure! What an album opener

This album washed over me like a warm waterfall. Wistful, wonderful, their use of reverb really tugged on my heart (esp "Burning"). Now I want to see these guys live. My one gripe is that many of the songs sounded similar.

No. 245/1001 Under The Pressure 4/5 Red Eyes 4/5 Suffering 3/5 An Ocean In Between The Waves 4/5 Disappearing 3/5 Eyes To The Wind 3/5 The Haunting Idle 3/5 Burning 4/5 Lost in the Dream 3/5 In Reverse 3/5 Average: 3,4 Sounds like the musicle child of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

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 i’m so fucking brilliant and deep. nah not really bro. your band is mid. while it isn’t at all memorable it certainly isn't bad either; it’s something that’d be good to listen to during a fever..it’s relaxing and guiltless to fall asleep to cuz you wouldn’t be missing out on much.

I'm sorry, but this album completely bored me out of mind. Also half the songs are way too long for my tastes (at least with their outros). I'm sure it's good if you like ambient-80s-style rock music.

I don’t like the fucking Eagles.

Prachtig album. Hedendaagse indie-psychedelische Rock. Ik vond het al een topplaat bij het uitkomen, en nu dus nog altijd

Great american rock album. deep, contemplative, emotional.

Holy shit it's so good

What a surprise! Loved this!

⭐ Hop là la 6eme étoile ! En voyant un album d'1h j'avais un peu la flemme, mais en fait c'était une des meilleures heures de 2022 pour l'instant donc c'est OK. En plus certains sons sont respirables (sav). Après, mes titres likés c'est Suffering, Disappearing et The Haunting Idle, je sais pas trop comment l'interpréter.

Ça me rappelle quand j'étais heureux

muuuito bom!

Daydream-y, melodic and melancholic.

Chill AF

Loved it. Touch of Springsteen and reminded me of Sam Fender?

First time of listening, great faux Dylan lyrical style, loved the whole album.

5 stars

I was shocked to see this make the list. I love this album and it’s hard to determine if I prefer this one or a deeper understanding. They are both great, smooth instrumentals to a t. I can’t and do listen to this album all the time. 9.0/10

9/10. This was really nice, I'd like to relisten when I have more time to listen to the lyrics

Išla bi u rat za ovaj album. Al na droge

A nostalgic ode to 80s rock that's as inspired and well executed as the artists that came before it.

Прекрасно.

Like driving through the desert at night, in the summer

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.

An album for a specific mood, feels like a soundtrack to a great movie

Wow, what a mellow yet beautiful walk through this mystical soundscape. Deep and rich with an almost trance-like peace. Track 5 titled, “Disappearing” was my favorite.

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!

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)

I already had a bunch of these songs in my favourites. Nice to listen to the album

Probably a 4.5 but I love this album / band so….

idk yet

Good for daytime listening

"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.

Great vibe, love the whole album.

All time favourite

love. v chill

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.

Love!

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

The tones! The toooooones!!!!

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

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.

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.

This album took me somewhere. Soulful and deep. Grateful that it was my first album of this challenge.

Every second of this fucks

Indie rock, psychedelic rock. Precioso.

Yeah, this the one

Loved it. Kind of U2 meets Springsteen vibe

One of my all time favorites

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.

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.

Really liked it! Will definitely like to listen again.

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.

If you get the chance, try to see The War on Drugs live, they're fantastic

One of the best albums from here I've heard in quite a while

i mean... its perf. not my exact vibe. but perf regardless

One of my favorite albums of all-time

Really good! Good album to fall asleep to.

I like this melodic thoughtful rock.