Lost In The Dream

Pretty good, pleasant listening experience

I loove this vibe! Wll definitely listen again

Really enjoyable album. Very re-listenable. Not my usual style, maybe a bit light for me, but added.

The Dire Straits it's cool to like. Reverb, motorik beats and synths. There are some good tunes here but they can start to blend together. Best Tracks: Under The Pressure; Red Eyes; Burning

Generally, The War On Drugs does nothing for me, yet I can see why this album is recognized as Granduciel's biggest achievement yet. It's just that, apart from some highlights here and there in those looooong tracks (see "Red Eyes" or "The Ocean Between The Waves", for instance), the music on *Lost In The Dream* is just too 'one-note' compared to things I usually like (okay, two-notes, as in "the same two chords" repeated and then transposed all over a song, ha ha). Lyrics are fine, with some striking one-liners here and there. Yet most of the compositions and arrangements are just too linear to seal the deal for me. Granduciel does his best Dylan impression on opener "Under The Pressure", then channels his inner Springsteen on " Red Eyes", often to great effects. But as much as I can appreciate those references, and as nice as this album *sounds* overall, its second part tends to fade away into the background as it drones on, one track blurring into the next without making much of a difference. I always try to keep an open mind, but clearly, I don't see what the fuss is all about with this borderline "bland"- band. I might reconsider that take, though, and so leave the door open for other listens. In the realm of acts inspired by Springsteen and the likes, I guess you can still consider "Lost In the Dream" as better than anything The Killers ever recorded, for instance. That's gotta count for something, right? :D Number of albums left to review or just listen to:  more than 900, I've temporarily lost count here. Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens:  approximately a half so far. Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter (including this one). Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter.

I love this album. I think it feels very much like classic rock in the vein of Springsteen, but mixes in enough modern indie rock influences to keep it interesting for me.

I discovered this band after first hearing and digging into Kurt Vile. And it's one of those bands that keeps getting recommended to my by the various streaming services. All that to say Under the Pressure is one of my favourite songs and this album as a whole is a great listen. An Ocean In Between The Waves was another highlight. Keen to keep on the playlist.

Very chill and slow. I can enjoy this kind of music as background music but It didn't feel like anything more than that. Burning was probably the most memorable song from the Album but it felt like the album was meant to be listened to in its entirety. Album probably a 2.5 but ill give it a 3

Enjoyable, pleasant to the ear but didn’t set the Heather alight

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….

Interesting and enjoyable. Not really familiar with it yet. I think I'd like it more after I hear it a few more times. 2.5/5 for now

This is The War on Drugs' third album and was inspired (if that's the right word) from lead singer and guitarist Adam Granduciel's bout with depression and loneliness after a long tour. The War on Drugs' music (at least the early stuff) has a dreamy, ambient feel to it. Their best songs tend to be ones that start slow and build and there are a number of those songs on this album which is probably my favorite from them. Their music is compared to various artists and music of the 80's. Yeah, I guess; if you dig you can pick out some influences of 80's artists. Though, I get a lot more from the their last album "I Don't Live Here Anymore." Their three big (relatively speaking) and my favorite songs from the album are "Under the Pressure", "Red Eyes," and "An Ocean in Between the Waves." They start slow and build with guitars, keyboards and piano to a jam. Some may say the last three minutes of "Under the Pressure" is basically a filler with ambient music. I'd agree. Alright, I went digging for 80's sounds in some of these songs. This is what I heard. The beat in "Disappearing" does resemble Tears for Fears' "Pale Shelter." Respectable. I heard Bob Seger in "Eyes to the Wind" specifically "Against the Wind". OK. And finally I did not hear Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" in "Disappearing" but more of a Rod Srewart's " Young Turks." Ouch! Overall, I've always liked this album. It has a definite chill kind of mood and maybe The War on Drugs' best album in achieving that state.

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

2/5 naaah

I went in with an open mind, but while not bad, I wasn’t impressed. Just sounds like a modern Dire Straits.

This starts off nice and smooth. It's an easy listen, harkening back to 70s/80s singer / songwriter FM rock, Bob Segar and Jackson Brown come to mind. This is my first experience with The War On Drugs, and it was pleasant and soothing. 3/5.

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

All very pleasant but ultimately one dimensional

3.8

I like this album. The atmospherics give it a Daniel Lanois vibe. His voice has a dylanesque drawl which is appealing. The songs are generally strong especially Under Pressure, Red Eyes, Burning and in Reverse. The guitar sound is also notable. It does get a little same by the end but the strong songwriting keeps it interesting. 3.75 stars.

From what I heard they were pretty good, I'll certainly listen to this again

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

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.

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.

Good stuff, liked it originally, still does goes stuff for me

Big step up from previous records, this is mature and interesting and (befitting the title) a little dream-like. “Under the Pressure” is great here but has been elevated to epic proportions live. “Suffering” is also great. The rest of the record sets a mood, contemplative and near trance-like at times, but driving at others. There’s an expansiveness to the songs and the playing that seems like a perfect balance of the auteur effect and jam band tendencies. Subsequent records are even better – further growth – but this is an easy, straight-up 4.

It was okay, but nothing particularly special

Ma che cosa significa tutto questo? Boh, canzoni lunghe, un buon sottofondo niente di più

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.

Was not too stoked on the lyrics but the music was tight

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.

Nice

A more recent band for this list. I bought this record when it was released and still go to it a few times a year. It's nice and chill, but with a lot happening. I'm glad Adam Granduciel made a record that got him a first date with Krysten Ritter, too. I think they're still together. Good job, pal. His guitar rig is incredible. Like so many signal paths routed through several very nice guitar amps. I like that his vocals are a blend of The Boss and Dylan.

Never heard of this. Thought I'd hate it. Actually really enjoyed it. I'm not sure why - it was just pleasant to listen to. Nothing earth shattering, just well-executed artsy rock stuff.

One of my favorite indie adjacent albums of the last ten years. Under the Pressure was an integral song during the biggest depression of my life. This album has a great vibe and it feels good to listen to it.

Very ethereal, but ultimately it tries too hard to emulate that New Wave-style synth sound from the 80s and ends up being forgettable in places. Standout tracks: Red Eyes Eyes to the Wind Lost in the Dream

Listening to this for a second time, I think I realised why I hadn't previously listened to this for a second time. Goddamn but these songs are just wiltingly long. I like the basic material they're made from—the tunes are good and I enjoy the crossover of 2010s indie with 80s classic rock—but they didn't need to be *quite* so much as they are...

‘Burning’ sounds like a Bruce Springsteen song but I enjoyed listening to it so three stars

Ranges between a sort of soft rock sound (meh) to a Vapor Wave sound (fuckin rules) Overall a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be

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.

3/5

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

Rating: 6/10

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

Didn't hate it. Album moved along and each song was as strong as the next. But in the end it's a one and done for me.

Meh

An excellent record. Worthy of 1001? Not in my opinion. That’s not to detract from how good the record is, it’s just not something I think is more influential than derivative. That’s said, I will listen to it again, and I could imagine a live show would be fanatic.

You know an album is good when you hear the songs for the first time and you tell yourself "I'm gonna have to go back and listen to this again" that's how it is for me with this album. This has The Verve's Urban Hymns murkiness all over it (a good thing) with instruments buried in the mix so low that you may not here what their playing the first time. I love "A Deeper Understanding" but wasn't impressed with "I Don't Live Here Anymore" Adam Granduciel's vocals remind me of a cross between Dwight Twilley and Daniel Lanois (again, a good thing) This is definitely a 1001 album you must hear before you die.

They try a few different styles, but none work particularly well. Only "An Ocean in Between the Waves" and maybe "Lost in a Dream" are fairly good tracks, in my opinion.3

Ah look, I know this is good. I've played it through 5 times now. It's just... Pretty indistinguishable. Every track. Just a decent 4/5 track. Over and over again. Consistent.

I liked their sound but I didn't really hear anything distinctive.

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

First time with this band.

ekki ég

Oh stop

It’s nice but not for all the fuzz around it

Daora, mas quando cheguei na última faixa, já não me lembrava nenhuma das outras anteriores. Mas escutarei novamente em algum ponto no futuro.

parabéns às drogas, que por mais um ano, venceram a guerra às drogas 😭😭😭

the war on drugs q deu certo ✌️

Nothing of note, good nor bad.

Not great... 3?

Very pretty

I can got down with this. Not their absolute best album in my opinion but definitely emblematic of their distinctive sound. Their music is like a cold dark cave, but from which you can look out and see the stars.

This is what I wish Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers sounded like.

I want to like it more than I do. I do like it, but it's just sort of "there". Doesn't excite me or move me. It's kind of that 2010 era of indie sensibility that is somewhat interesting and yet very palatable, which I think compromises too much on accessibility, at least for me.

Bom. Mas não ouvi muito.

Sounds like the 80s with better production. Catchy and calm.

The guy who wrote this list certainly has a type where indie rock is concerned. I liked this pretty well, but the limitations of the vocalist detracted from the music a bit for me, and rendered most of the lyrics indistinguishable. So if they were clever, they were lost on me.

Chill AF

Had this on in the background and it was a steady flow of good music through the post album shuffle

Philly represent

Another mediocre album. It wasn't awful, but I can't imagine I'd ever go back and listen to it again.

As a guitarist the album is brilliant for painting dreamy fuzzy guitar filled landscapes, but as a listener the songs don’t really DO anything. They feel a bit lacklustre and drag on way too long. It’s a weird one, one half of me really enjoyed the loose and spacious atmosphere created by his guitar pedals, but the other half of me was bored out of my mind. 3/5 - Great music to fall asleep to.

mostly cheesy but really liked some of the more instrumental ambient tracks

Daydream-y, melodic and melancholic.

Mark Kozelek is right. I don't even like Sun Kil Moon, but this is some pretty bland beer commercial rock right here. What an embarrassment for a list of supposedly essential music.

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.

When the album first started, it seemed to be a very familiar sound to me...although I don't think I have ever heard of the album nor artist. That familiarity was kind of comforting. Then as I listened a second and third time, it became less and less meaningful...kind of just bland. If I hear any tracks from the album in the future, there is a good chance that I may not even notice it in the background. I think I will have a response like "Meh, I think I have heard this before, but I don't think I really care..."

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.

I haven’t ever heard of this band before, but seconds into the first song I was pretty sure I liked them. “Under the Pressure” instantly drew me in. I was shocked to realize this song is over 9 minutes and I hadn’t checked my watch. Most of the songs on the album take you on a dreamy, uptempo and, at times, soaring journey with the drum tracks pulling a wall of music in their wake. The often ethereal vocals slide in and out without disrupting the flow of the music. It’s a style that really works well for me. There’s a lot to like in the slower songs on this album as well. “Suffering” and “Lost in the Dream” roll in like a fog around you. Both are really beautiful tracks. LOST IN THE DREAM doesn’t jump out and demand attention but lures you in with a cool, unhurried vibe. This will be an easy album to put on an revisit often.

4,5

I dig it. I wouldn't call it incredible or anything, though

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

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

muuuito bom!

Nothing special ok as background

Not sure if I've never heard of the band before, or just didn't recognize the band name as a band name. The latter seems more likely. It's a pretty recent album and I really don't think it's inclusion is warranted. The singer has a good voice and the album probably takes up a particular niche in the music scene of the last years. But the reason that niche might still have been free might simply be that it's not very interesting. Previous decades had more than their fill of this sort of album and most likely with more interesting instrumentation. Yes, the minimalist bare bones approach in instrumentation and mixing help highlight the voice - but they are also very boring. Please turn that war up a couple of notches next time guys.

Ça me rappelle quand j'étais heureux

⭐ 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.

un peu long mais un feeling que moi de 2014 aurait bien aimé

Very good indie music. I liked it.

Trim some songs down and this could have been higher.

Nice but fairly uninspiring.

Absolute stone cold classic

Wonderful from start to finish

Snore on drugs 😴

Spectacular! Came right away to in the perfect time, a very cold winter, specially beautiful guitars and reverbs.

A kind of peaceful album that was nice to listen to. No recognized songs

All very pleasant. I didn’t have a full hour to listen through, but I don’t think I’ll have missed much. I’ll try and come back to this one.

Cool album, big sounds. A great Alt music album. did lose interest at times in the middle to 2nd half of the record but in definitely think I'll be listening to this one again

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.

Not bad a bit mellow

Nice

Is revisit this. Good chilled out album with a definite 80s soft rock feel.

I had some fun listening to it, but why so long songs? and why so much experimentalism even when the best part is the "classical" one?

Super easy to listen to. Good vibes ✌🏼 let's get lost in a dream babyyyy.

Good, not very memorable, wouldn't really listen to much of this 2.5/5

Great

wasn't expecting to like it, long tracks but good listen

שמעתי את ההתחלה היא הייתה מעולה אבל לא המשכתי לצערי

This is one I had listened to before. It scratches that Tom Petty itch for me.

First time hearing this album and I really enjoyed it. Some of the songs may be a bit long, but overall it's very enjoyable. Sort of a throwback rock album, which is rare to hear from newer music!

Great sound. Really liked it.

Yeah pretty good, nothing earth-shaking

Fantastic TWOD record.

3.5. Disco muy homogéneo y ambiental. Buen rollo para tener de fondo. Under the pressure y eyes to the wind las mejores en un primer contacto.

What a surprise! Loved this!

Indie. Ni fu ni fa.

Holy shit it's so good

Great american rock album. deep, contemplative, emotional.

It's a decent album, nothing really bad about it, but it's just kind of bland. Songs that seem to go on and on. Pleasant to listen to but just sort of boring. 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because I feel generous.

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.

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

War on 'meh'

3.5 | Sin conocimiento de la banda ni del disco, se me hizo un disco bastante decente, se sienten claras las influencias (a veces demasiado) tipo Springsteen o Young y, aunque tiene una cantidad de ratos medio sedados y que no proponen mucho se me hace una producción muy limpia con un sonido que llamaría panorámico. Solos de guitarra interesantes y momentos también explosivos. No me encanta del todo la manera de cantar pero el disco como tal fluye y fluye correcto. Fue bastante agradable para trabajar, no pensaría que es ni cerca del pináculo de ese estilo de "Americana" al que se apega tanto, pero funciona correctamente.

Bastante agradable de inicio aunque las tres veces que lo escuché no logró mantener mi atención.

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.

New band for my favourites. Like it a lot. Reminds me of Ryan Adam's 1979.

Liked this one…. Many different styles for each song

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 fun to get albums I love on this list. I've been a fan of the The War on Drugs (the band, not the concept) since A Deeper Understanding, and their latest is among my favorite albums this year. Adam Granduciel has such a cool voice, reminiscent of guys like Bob Dylan and Lou Reed, or contemporary Kurt Vile. Just a unique, unmistakable sound. I remember this album getting loads of critical acclaim back in 2014, and I wasn't on board then, but anytime I give this another shot I find more to love. These guys balance wistfulness and triumph extremely well. Favorite tracks: Red Eyes, Burning, Lost in the Dream, Eyes to the Wind, In Reverse, An Ocean In Between the Waves. Album art: Very contemplative shot, love the degraded colors and the light/dark contrast. I got annoyed seeing this back in 2014 when I wasn't into it, but now it's comforting. 4.5/5

Liked this a lot! Krautrocky rhythms overlaid with dreamy vocals and slide guitar - a very pleasant experience. Mostly preferred the more uptempo songs to the slower ones, but appreciate how it all blends together. Fave track - "An Ocean In Between The Waves" maybe? This album is more about the album than individual tracks, though....