Lost In The Dream

I slept on this album!

It is simply fine

Listened

Did every song need to be 7 minutes long?? Absolutely not. But was it still pretty good? Yes, yes it was

Crazy that this is 12+ years old already. In my mind's eye I would have thought half that. It's good. Some tracks run a bit long and meandering. Some of it feels a little obvious. But is that not almost the definition of reching towards classic status? If it feels like stuff that's always been there, maybe that just shows some timeless solidity? Quite cinematic. Road trip music.

“War on Drugs” sounds like they lost the war on drugs.

intersting

I found this album hard to get into. Not because it is bad, far from it in fact, but because it has dreamy vibes that just melt in the back of your brain. If you dive deeper into the lyrics, you get some raw emotional storytelling, that quite frankly will leave you depressed. Not my favorite, but not bad at all. Favorite Song: Red Eyes Score: 82/100

This album made me want to do drugs, just to spice it up. Musically it's fine, the vocals are fine it's just really boring. 2.5* rounded down to 2*

Mark Kozelek was right; they suck!

Heard the name, but never really checked them out. Not a fan of the sound of the first track, second one is more of an 80s anthem, but something too clean about it all. Songs are too long. 2.5 rounded up Heard before? Some Owned: No, 108/429 (25%) Will I get: No

Well immediately under the pressure is on the playlist! Loved that! Was literally dancing and swaying at my stand up desk haha oh man, this album is 100% my tastes... ive been vibing all morning! Its amazing too how some good music sets the tone for your day. Added Disappearing to the playlist as well! Is that the first album so far thats had two songs added!? This album is fantastic! one of my absolute favorites so far! I will definitely be listening to more albums but The War on Drugs.

It was fine but pretty bland and forgettable tbh.

Listened before? Yes Thoughts: - I know the point here is to discover albums I haven't heard yet, but I'm still relieved when the generator gives me something I already know I like. - Have listened to this a few times, mainly for the song Red Eyes, which I still think is the best here. - Best places to listen to this would be either in front of a campfire, or driving at night. High in my kitchen was a good substitute though. - I can't give it a 5 because I do think a lot of the songs go on too long, but I'll definitely be listening to it again. Favorite track(s): Red Eyes; In Reverse

yes yes yes no skips!!

Whether it’s the shoegaze guitars, the reverb added to the synths and vocals, or the lovely instrumental sections, I love this kind of music. The opening tracks are really gorgeous, steady and heady, while the closing tracks aren’t as strong as the rest of the record. It’s really nice to come across bands like these while going through the list because I really don’t think I would’ve known about them otherwise.

I find it all a bit repetitive, so actually rather monotonous. Still, two stars...

this is sooo nice

A pretty good album with a couple of belters on it. Red Eyes in particular is a great tune. For a good while I was thinking this would be a four star but a few of the tracks dragged on a bit too much for my liking, Disappearing felt like it went on for an eternity. Overall I liked it but I’m unlikely to ever listen to it again in full. On a side note this is now my longest stretch without a five star album, 30 albums ago. Maybe I’m becoming more picky as this goes on lol. Top Track - Red Eyes

Never heard of this band. I didn’t mind it.

I was reading a reddit thread the other day about albums people listen to when they want to chill out and this one came up. Pretty accurate. 3.5

Sounds like a combo of Springsteen and Dylan and I think I prefer this to either of those guys. The drums are simple but always drive the song forward.

5 - This is one of my all-time favorites. No notes.

very good

lovely feels like the fog clearing in late autumn or an arm reaching out i really enjoyed

Whiny shit pretends to be Bob Dylan

Critically acclaimed with Americana influences?… I’m in! But alas, this turns out to be far too drony and navel-gazy for my liking. And honestly, throwing in a G-C-D chord progression and some treated harmonica on one song is not exactly Americana. They should have just titled this album “Music to Contemplate Killing Yourself By” and been done with it. But that’s totally giving away the game, innit?

The first track held me then de-evolved into ambient music for the last few minutes. Having listened to my list out of order this is right up the previous album I listened to "Selected Ambient Works 85-92" territory. I don't think this added much to the song and only makes sense as an album track as to release it you could cut the last 3 or 4 minutes without losing anything. The rest of the album does sound like themselves which is not a criticism.

They could be decent. Dire straits meets Springsteen/U2/KOL mash up. But it's just so dull and very little in the form of variety or change of pace.

Jeg kunne godt lide det.... det var en god oplevelse. Jeg er nødt til at fremhæve "Under pressure" , "Red eyes" og "burning" Det lyder alt sammen , men hver song er på en eller anden måde anderledes. Højt 3 eller lav 4... hmm....

Banger. It does get a little full of itself at times, but it is part of the charm. I am thinking a nice very comfy 4 here.

War on Drugs er sådan en snooze fest 1.9

innoffensive alt-rock, washed over me

suena muy indie 2010.

A bland boring nothing of an album.

Reminds me of TPS

I liked it. It wasn't great, kinda dragged, and was about 20 min too long but something about it really hit

I liked this. I'll quite happily revisit and listen to more of their stuff

Really nice drifting guitar sound. Like how it keeps moving even when the songs are long.

The instrumentals of the first song were jarring for me through my earbuds, so I didn’t have the best first impression. And I also immediately thought, “Whoa, this vocalist sounds like a modern Bob Dylan!” But then…as the album went on, I fell more and more in love. And was really pulled into it. Each song is so unique and his voice is also uniquely expressed in each one, so, sure, he CAN sound like Bob Dylan but is also so much more and has his own unique sound! I really love “Suffering” and also the instrumental songs. They all just went together so well. Maybe this is an example of “don’t judge a book by your cover” because I actually really, really ended up loving this. It just kept getting better and better. I went from thinking it would be a 3 or 4, but it is definitely a 5 for me. I want to listen to it again and again.

It sounds like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan had a baby, and that baby had a moderately better voice than either of his parents, and decided he'd like to carve out his own niche in the world so he started listening to pouty indie rock like Arcade Fire and Wilco, but also layered a tiny bit of atmospheric guitar-driven rock like Godspeed, or Mogwai into his inspirations. Sadly, there's also a piece of the baby that decided to rebel, and so every so often he allows country music to seep into his life, causing him to want to play around with sliding guitars and twang, and that really sucks. Overall, the baby is better than his Dad Bruce who massively sucks, and even though he's not anywhere near as good as Daddy Bob, he's a lot more varied, and I guess that counts for something.

half good half bad some of it was just way too much instrumentals

Amazing album by one of my favourite bands. 4,5/5.

Dreamy. Absolutely adore this band. I think the fact that Mark Kozelek hates the make me love them even more. 4.5/5

first album so far that I had legitimately never heard of, not my favourite but a solid 3/5 with some songs I will be revisiting

Under the Pressure was the only track I liked on this album.

Quite liked this. Reminded me of Richard Ashcroft

I think this guy got lost in the drugs

Very chill background music. Maybe they were some inspiration for Hippo Campus? I wouldn't actively choose this, but I do enjoy it a lot.

Over the years, more than one person has told me that I'd enjoy this band, including a random stranger in a record store who saw what I was purchasing and recommended The War On Drugs to me. So it was great to have this opportunity to hear them for myself, and to have the luxury of an entire weekend to try to get to know their music. Turns out, I already knew their music, because I have heard, and in many cases love, all their influences. Even the bit which sounded vaguely like Abba. As I listened for a second or third time, I found myself anticipating the bit which sounds like Van Morrison, or the bit which sounds like Mercury Rev, or Springsteen, or... You get the idea. In the end, it's fine; I do like it. But I don't love its meandering excavations of the last 50 years of music, and while I would never object to hearing it again, I equally wouldn't seek it out. In the end - it's fine.

It kind of reminded me of Explosions in the Sky. Remember them? Probably not. But that’s neither here nor there. I’d heard of this group, but wasn’t familiar with any of their songs. And even after listening to their album I’m not sure I was familiar with their work. It was hard to tell the tracks apart. They kind of blended together in a musical melange. A very, very well performed melange, I might add. The instrumentation and performances were really top notch. Overall, I’d say I enjoyed it and wouldn’t oppose listening to it again.

I really like the tone of this album. I let it all sort of wash over me as a long soundscape. That’s also something that lets me know I likely won’t revisit. It’” sounds great. But it mostly blends together without many stand out songs.

One of the better albums I’ve listened to so far. Thoroughly enjoyed the listening experience with ethereal melodies. These songs sound like a quiet chill Monday morning and there’s beauty in that. Only a 4/5 due to the fact that some songs drag on a little too much but would listen again

I like!

4.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-war-on-drugs/lost-in-the-dream/ Took me quite some time to get into this at first, but have been a fan of this album for a long while now. Used to be bummed that the album was not more like Red Eyes and got annoyed by the long, almost ambient parts. Oh, how foolish I was!

Nice. Good working music

First few tracks very standard indie. Got a lot better but not quite Springsteen!

Nice sound, album sounds the same throughout so I am not sure it excites me

lange nummers, beetje repetitief wel leuk opzich.

There’s a folky ambience to this. Sound wise I’ve heard similar things on modern Dylan records, but this is less demonstrative, more insidious, and it does its best to insinuate itself into your consciousness rather than demanding attention.

It's chill. Lot's of Noah Kahan vibes mixed with Bob Dylan. I enjoyed it. I probably wouldn't put it on proactively but I wouldn't stop someone from playing it on a road trip. I could see myself getting to like a handful of these songs.

Call me Nixon the way I love The War On Drugs. Favourite songs: Red Eyes, Suffering, Eyes to the Wind

fantastic blend of psychedelic techno rock bono,Dylan sounding album

Super chill, yet substantial and moving - with hints of Springsteen and Henley.

Strong start—Under the Pressure is a banger, but then the rest of the album kinda blends together for me. Lowkey every song sounds the same :(

genuinely ass doesnt even feel like indie rock well ig indie rock is a broad genre

It’s an alright chill indie sound

En realidad es un 3,5

Haunted Idle is great. Instrumentation is great. Lyrics are great. But again, the vocals are...lacking heavily.

Great album, but not sure how the war on drugs is going...

It’s not bad but it’s super long Nice & mellow; good for focusing

It was fine. Songs a little on the long side.

скучно. не мое, ожидал большего

for me they peaked early at Slave Ambient, but this was the middle of an incredible 3 album run.

It was a very pleasant surprise to discover this unfamiliar group. The quality of the recording was fantastic, I love everything about its production - the mix, the selection & balance of instrumentation (how about that divine harmonica!), the presence of the vocals. The nostalgically hypnotic feeling of the record as a whole was right up my alley. Really good stuff.

2014 psychedelic rock, depression and paranoia Under the pressure Red eyes Eyes to the wind Burning

Can hear the influence that this album has had on many others. Need to re listen a few more times

86/100. The War on Drugs channel the spirit of Springsteen, Dylan, and Dire Straits, then run it through a foggy dream filter, ending up with something both familiar and strangely new. Songs stretch out and evolve naturally, often blooming into cinematic finales without ever losing their emotional grounding.

This is ok. It has a lot of promise at points, but doesn't really go anywhere. I like hearing more recent stuff on this project, but I'm a little confused as to why this record. Again, not bad, but nothing about it really stands out. 7/10

very chill, feels like good background music.

On paper I should like this. Moody atmospheric rock, emo, psychedelic, but this just didn’t click with me. I can tell it’s well made and deep, but was t what I was feeling at the moment.

Hørte på denne den eneste riktige måten... i bilen.

Deilig plate! Litt trekk for lengde

Bra bilmusikk. Noen bra låter, men etter hvert så høres alt bare likt ut. Et kjempebra band i sin sjanger, men en kjedelig sjanger. Akkurat midt på treet.

Liker bandet, men mest på plata etter denne. Her blir det litt seigt på siste halvdel. Sikkert bra til droger, for den som driver med sånt.

AOTY.

First impressions 1. Good intro. New to me album and band. First two tracks brought me back to the 1980s. Next tracks late 90s vibe to "suffering", starting to get some Petty vibes and I could go on more about that, but on the first half of the album I'm giving it a pass due to initial enjoyment. While listening to the first half I read some of the negative reviews. It seems obvious influences are well covered (pun intended). The reviews go three ways - neg from people that don't like anything that sounds like old stuff, "Dad rock". Neg from old music fans that feel they're too derivative of the old stuff, and lastly positive reviews by that can appreciate new takes on music they loved. Because I like the old 70s-80s stuff myself and they have declared influences was on the fence. Then the 5th track starts. Oh boy, now I see what others were talking about Disappearing most like a Don Henley track for sure. Eyes to the wind - making a joke with Dylan of course. How could anyone have 'wind' in the title of a song trying to sound like Dylan? -1 When reviewers mentioned Springsteen I wasn't seeing it early on. Yeah, now I have to be brutal. "Burning", there it is. 'dreaming, bridge, answers, dark, heart, man...' Again the music is good, a sound they can work on, but that middle of the album is too derivative. -1 That said, some good stuff here, even those worst offenders show good musicianship by the end, the worst offenders almost seem like a cover band. I liked the first 4 tracks. I want to like the last track "In Reverse" too as it seems like they smashed more of the obvious influences all together convincingly enough to not be called out a cover. Verdict: If this album was released 30 years ago it would never be on a top album chart, it would forgotten just like a heaps of 80s and 90s stuff I have that were mid range but good enough to buy, though eventually were never played again. It was only either nostalgia from critics etc, or ignorance from the youth that that didn't know half of it sounded like a cover band that was powering it to high reviews back when it was released. First 4 tracks being good means it's worth at least 2.5, and I mostly round up.

Very strong 4. I liked this a lot. It's a pretty perfect album to put on at a hippie kind of function

The singer wants to be Dylan, the keys and guitarists want to be the E-Street Band, and the bassist and drummer are there on work release or something because they can only play the simplest things. The soundscapes do nothing but extend boring songs. It's an extra star because you could pick one of these songs and it'd be ok, but not an hour of what is essentially the same song over and over. This goes beyond inspiration and in to a shitty tribute act of the various bands they wish they were. It's embarrassing. And I don't even like those bands.

Нормально для фона. Не более.

D. A. R. E. Drugs Are Really Excellent. They should have done some, maybe there'd be something interesting to listen to. This is the most boring album I've heard yet. And I'm 700 albums deep. I was hoping it was almost over, turned out I was on the 4th song. That first song sounded like they heard A Sort of Homecoming by U2 once and they were trying to play it from memory. It didn't get better from there.

This is probably really good if you're on the right substance and trying to hardcore chill. Otherwise its a big lazy drag.

One of the bigger surprises since starting this, loved this album.

A soundscape I can get behind, but it felt like it went on for the full hour without changing. No standout tracks. Rating: 2.5

This album is the aural definition of the word "meh".

Had to listen to it 3 times to understand how it made the list. All the pieces are there, still isn’t good

Unimpressed

3.5/5

Dylan and Springsteen inspired, inoffensive but uninspiring, a bit middle of the road. Once it finished, I remembered nothing.

Lost In The Dream The War On Drugs 2014 Genres: Rock Styles: Indie Rock 1. Under the Pressure (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Abre el álbum desde la ansiedad y la sensación de estar sobrepasado. El narrador intenta mantener el control mientras lidia con pensamientos, miedo y una presión interna que amenaza con hacerlo quebrarse. La canción funciona como la entrada al estado mental del disco: movimiento constante por fuera, pero confusión y angustia por dentro. 2. Red Eyes (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Presenta la huida como una forma de enfrentarse al malestar. Hay carretera, velocidad y movimiento, pero avanzar no significa necesariamente escapar de los problemas. El narrador parece decidido a continuar aunque siga cargando con sus propios fantasmas, y la energía de la música contrasta con esa incertidumbre. 3. Suffering (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Es uno de los momentos más sombríos del álbum y gira alrededor del sufrimiento emocional, la confusión y una relación que parece atravesada por el desgaste. Más que contar una historia precisa, transmite el estado de alguien que se encuentra atrapado en una situación dolorosa y no sabe muy bien cómo salir de ella. 4. An Ocean in Between the Waves (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Utiliza la imagen de un océano entre dos personas para representar una enorme distancia emocional. El narrador intenta recuperar el control y seguir avanzando, pero reconoce sus dudas, su vulnerabilidad y la posibilidad de estar engañándose respecto de su propia situación. La intensidad musical hace que parezca una carrera desesperada contra esa distancia. 5. Disappearing (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Trata sobre el aislamiento y la sensación de desaparecer emocionalmente. El narrador se repliega dentro de sí mismo y queda cada vez más alejado del mundo exterior. Es una canción particularmente introspectiva, casi como si estuviera flotando dentro de sus propios pensamientos sin encontrar un punto firme donde apoyarse. 6. Eyes to the Wind (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Es una mirada nostálgica y bastante vulnerable hacia el pasado. El narrador reconoce que está agotado, solo y atravesando un período oscuro, pero también intenta aceptar las cosas tal como son en lugar de seguir luchando contra ellas. Dentro de la tristeza del álbum, representa uno de sus primeros momentos de apertura y de posible recuperación. 7. The Haunting Idle (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Instrumental que funciona como una representación del estado de ánimo del álbum más que como una canción narrativa. Su atmósfera suspendida y fantasmal transmite introspección, soledad y una sensación de estar perdido en los propios pensamientos. Es como un intervalo en el que desaparecen las palabras y queda solamente el estado emocional. 8. Burning (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Es uno de los momentos más luminosos y enérgicos del disco, pero mantiene su preocupación por el conflicto interno. La imagen de algo que sigue ardiendo puede asociarse con deseo, frustración, inquietud o una necesidad que todavía no se ha apagado. La música deliberadamente ofrece un contraste más optimista con las partes oscuras del álbum. 9. Lost in the Dream (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Es el núcleo conceptual del álbum: estar perdido dentro de los propios pensamientos, recuerdos y deseos. El narrador parece contemplar su vida desde cierta distancia, atrapado entre lo que ocurrió, lo que quería que ocurriera y aquello que todavía no consigue dejar atrás. El "sueño" funciona menos como una fantasía feliz que como un estado mental del que resulta difícil despertar. 10. In Reverse (★★⯨☆☆) -Context: Cierra el álbum intentando mirar una relación y el propio pasado hacia atrás para comprender qué ocurrió. Hay una mezcla de pérdida, oscuridad y aceptación: el narrador ya no parece intentar reconstruir perfectamente aquello que perdió, sino aceptar que algunas cosas desaparecen y que él también tiene que continuar. El cierre termina siendo más esperanzador de lo que parece al principio: después de todo el ensimismamiento del álbum, finalmente está moviéndose. -TOTAL = 2 -Me generó rechazo el hecho de sonar como a la distancia, atmosférico en parte, pero distante, sin vitalidad, no me cerró por ningún lado, de hecho ninguna canción me resultó interesante a pesar de reconocer que suena bien, está bien hecho...

Ruim

So incredibly boring (I don’t hate it as background music, but it’s extremely dull)

Det här var verkligen min vibe! Jag borde lyssna om någon gång utan pauser. Sångaren påminde mig om sångaren i Fruit Bats, och typ liite Bob Dylan också. Vet inte om jag skulle klassa albumet som rock dock, som den här sidan gör. Låtarna är långa men jag bryr mig inte riktigt. I like!

It’s really nice but quite samey for a full hour

Enjoyed it, made a good background to studying. Very vibey

I had never heard of them and I was very sceptical. However… I was definitely humbled when it turned out to be a real gem of an album and a really enjoyable listen.

Wow, The Killers really heard this and thought "what if we make like 4 albums in a row that sound exactly like this?" Which is by no means a bad thing at all, I actually really like the direction The Killers took later in their career, and it's cool to hear a more recent album that was clearly a huge influence. Just some good ol heartland rock with the very standard triumphant and inspirational type of sound. It's the kind of thing you can really just get lost in and enjoy purely on the vibes you get from it.

Mark Kozelek getting assigned this album on the list: 🤬🤬🤬🤬

i always found this album really boring but i liked it more today than usual! but i still think its just ok

Okayy

the auditory equivalent of driving on the highway through nebraska cornfields for six hours; the vast majority of it is a stultifyingly repetitive trudge, broken only occasionally by a glimpse of something more worth observing out of the corner of your eye - perhaps a train, or a power plant - but it's in the rearview mirror and then out of sight in moments.

398/1001 The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Yes, it is heavily inspired by Springsteen, but equally there's enough here to make its own. It's one of those albums that I really enjoy, but never listen to it anywhere near enough, so this was a bit of a treat. It may be a touch too long.

Not my thing. The drums and guitars sounded the same on most of the songs to me. 2 stars

Too melancholy for me, but I get why people may like it.

Hour long. Good all the way. They manage to have songs over 8 minutes that didn't feel stagnant. Its a great more modern adaptation of rock.

Nice album with some ambient-style tracks which are quite nice. Would listen again!

Was expecting not to enjoy this - even though it featured on my 20-14 EOYCD. So ended up being pleasantly surprised to enjoy an album which I already knew I liked. What a weird world we live in.

high 3 I mean its fine its just a bit boring never got into this

Elevator music for sad dads and irritating music college first years. As dull as it is musically accomplished

It's fine, pleasant to listen to

Pretty good album. Throughly enjoyed this one

Whatever that was wasn’t my vibe.

Jamie: Very sweeping, vibey Kevin: I remember listening to this a ton back when it came out and thinking it was basically millennial Bruce Springsteen (that's a compliment)

Fajne do autobusu.⚡️

6.5/10

Really liked this. Combined some good elements of Springsteen with dreamy guitar work and emotional singing. Going to check out more!

One great song (Red Eyes). As a whole, the album is ok but not great.

Really good album! It has these atmospheric textures that make the music sound dreamy and whatnot. This album sounds amazing! It's very underrated!

3.6. Gonna bump it to 4. Liked it. It’s definitely more “good” than “fine”

Classic

Liked this a lot more than I expected.

blah, just the classic american album i guess

Did not really enjoy this for some reason.

This dude sounds like he wants so bad to be Bruce Springsteen

chill vibes with some interesting sounds, not too memorable though, but still very easy listening.

I say this affectionately: 2010s music for people who listen to classic rock radio. So really this should be my cup of tea, but I thought overall it was just alright. They’re not reinventing the wheel or doing anything explosive with their obvious influences (Springsteen, Orbison, other sad-dad-rock cornerstones), but they’re competent musicians and songwriters. It’s recorded and produced really well, but as a whole it’s just underwhelming and even indulgent. I felt like I was hearing the same song from different angles as the album went on. Good mood music for a rainy day, but not something I’ll be reaching for again.

Its okay to make a song that's less than 5 minutes long guys I promise

Another middle of the road 2000's era indie rock band.

Nice chill album. Fairly proggy sound. Good background music or as a soundtrack for quiet contemplation. Couple of standout tunes like Eyes to the Wind.

Good songs, very very similar.

Under The Pressure— solid opener but a bit too long— very Lou Reed. 3.5/5 Red Eyes— Okay, but also a bit heavy on vocal distortion. 3/5 Suffering— nice blues guitar, cleaner vocals, 4/5 An Ocean In Between The Waves— very 80’s drum beat and bassline, really like this one 4.5/5 Disappearing— nice and dreamy, 4/5 Eyes to the wind— HIS VOICE IS GREAT HERE! 5/5 The Haunting Idle— spooky start, just an instrumental 3/5 Burning— 3.5/5 Lost in the dream— nice harmonica, Bob Dylan vocals 3/5 In Reverse— nice closer 3.5/5 Overall 3.7/5

I couldn't think of an album more deserving of 3 stars. The music is good enough, but it never does anything that interesting. It's fine background music, I didn't mind playing it while doing some chores, but I would not want to give it a more focused listening as it just never did anything to hook me. Perfectly adequate, but I doubt I'll ever revisit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really liked the first song then it started all sounding the exact same to the point I thought the first song was like 20 minutes. This is what people were talking about all this time saying I need to listen to this band? It’s like millennial Bruce Springsteen which isn’t bad sometimes but mostly I’m good

170 albums so far, and I’ve only had 4 from the last two decades. And the is the only one I’ve really connected with. I found “Red Eyes” through Spotify recommendations before and now I’ve enjoyed the rest of the album. If I had to critique anything, I wish there were another high energy track on the back half.

this one is tough. on one hand, it's a nice album. on the other hand, it really hasn't aged well. It doesn't sound bad at all, it just has become kind of meaningless.

I fuck with the mystical shit

First listen

Maybe it's because I'm a fan of 80s rock so this album just happens to be more my style. Can get a little long/repetitive though. Favorites: Red Eyes, An Ocean in Between the Waves

Is there a bad tWoD album? Of course not. High 3s.

First song amazing The rest was fine Got boring Sad

Yeah I really liked this. I listened while chopping and dehydrating apples at 11pm at night. I'm not sure if that helped and made it more zen and relaxing, but I didn't hurt. It was like the Killers if led by Bob Dylan or Willie Nile, with hints of Neil Young and Kurt Vile. Really liked Red Eyes and Eyes to the Wind. I think it scrapes a 5. I can see why others hate it though. Also surprised that they actually have a drummer and not a drum machine.

Everyone I know loves the war on drugs. I do not. Ploddy bullshit. Like if Bruce Springsteen had less personality. Like if the guy from future islands never did his guttoral throat singing and never danced with any passion. Like if Bob Dylan could sing but had nothing to say. This is going to be a biased review/rant, feel free to check out. Nothing happens! It's all very nice and you find you foot tapping and you go, oh what's this, let me listen and as soon as you actually acknowledge the sounds your foot stops tapping and you realise it's just a slow repetitive beat, some reverb and a guy who sings like he thought dire straits were too exciting. Like a rights free indie soundscape written to help you imagine the colour magnolia. I actually thought Kurt Vile was Mr war on drugs, but I was wrong, he was only there for one album and that wasn't this one. But his music is exactly the same. I read that they wrote stuff for Sharon Von etton too and that explained a lot, her stuff is nearly fun. I imagine this is what Sam fender sounds like. I hope I never have to listen to him on this. It's the sort of music which seems to resonate with people I like and at least two artists that I love have got into this sort of thing and overnight I went from loving their tracks to having no emotional connection with it and it made me miserable. The best compliment I can think of is that some of it sounded a bit like the stuff pink Floyd play in-between actual songs, but without any sort of payoff. I read that burning was like dancing in the dark. This is a lie. But to try to be associated with that good song he even put the line "dancing in the dark" into the lyrics. Jeeez. Normally something this dull would be a harmless, forgettable 3, but the effect the influence of this boring music has had on my friends and some of my favourite artists means actively dislike it... I'm not sure that has really come across in this review, so I figured I should spell it out. Eurgh.

I've owned this album for a while now, but I just listened to it on my first record player in the first apartment I've had since graduating from college. This is a really good album, although I will admit it is a bit front-loaded. The first time I listened to the whole thing, I was pretty disappointed in everything after "Red Eyes," but as my tastes have evolved and as I have listened to The War On Drugs more my appreciation of the rest of the album has only increased. I love how the music drifts in and out, the songs sometimes giving way to hazy atmospheric segments that really fit with the album title, the art, the whole package. I can't help but feel a sense of longing that lingers after the music fades away. This is a great example of indie music and feels really special to listen to while you watch the sun go down. Favorite track(s): "Under the Pressure," "Red Eyes"

For an album that dropped in 2014 it feels older that the album dropped in 2007 😭 It’s a 4/10 for me. I really enjoy the gloomy and dreamy atmosphere of it, however the vocals did pull me out of the songs sometimes. But I have to admit I can see myself coming back to it. It’s a very good album to put as background music, not something I’d actively listen to. Wasn’t impressed much but it’s cute in a “relaxing during a rainy day” kind of way

Wears its love for Springsteen on its sleeve and I love it for that. Lost in the Pressure is a favourite of mine and I could listen to it on repeat.

Just okay background music again…

A while back, a friend classified The War on Drugs, The National and similar artists as Sad Dad Rock. Anyway, I can totally see this not being your cup of tea but I've been listening to this one for a while and I love the jammy, spacey, sad dad vibe.

Sorry broseph that’s a nope for me.

Easy listening Bob Dylan from the 2010s, just 50 years too late and lacking a certain poetry. Was nice to listen to though.

Random indie music.

Makes for good background music.

me gustó mucho la vibe

Great to start a new week of entries with an album that has singles I'm familiar with going in, no matter what anyone says I think it can be agreed on that this album has elite driving music, is it long? Maybe when just about every song sits at over 5 minutes which leads to some overstaying their welcome

Really enjoyed this. Atmospheric riffs.

This is great! It was one of my favorite albums of that year.

Good album, not the best that TWOD has done

Nice music

I'd like this a lot better if the lead singer weren't trying so hard to sound like Bob Dylan and/or Don Henley

this is almost very pretty. Five or six different decisions and I think I would have liked this a lot. Unfortunately it's hard to unhear the issue with the drums. It's also unpleasant to hear the Dylan-ish delivery. Everything kind of flows together but in that everything feels the same way, not the lost in an album kind of way. I really wanted to like this more than I did.

Very cool vibe. I do hear the Don Henley comparison everyone talked about. Some of the songs did sound the same, so that would be why I don't rank it much higher, but a solid 3/5.

Good, mellow background music to play in mixed company...No one gets offended.

全体的にふわふわしていて、浮遊感がある。 声も曲調に合っていていい感じだが、好みじゃない 多分もうきかん、聞いたらタイミングによってはハマりそうではある どうなんでしょう、これを作った人は普通じゃないと思う。まあ割とノれるしいいかもねー、わかんない

A perfect album for rainy evenings or sunset walks. 10/10

This album is humid as hell. I can smell it. Just a persistent late summer haze. Both nostalgic and melancholic. Loved it. I went years before realizing that the War On Drugs and the Cold War Kids were not the same band. Favorites were Under The Pressure, Red Eyes, An Ocean In Between The Waves, Eyes To The Wind, and Burning.

Vibey alt light rock with great jams. A phenominal album.

Shimmering, sunset indie rock that feels like heartland rock without ever actually sounding like it. The comparisons to Springsteen and Petty are fair to an extent, but neither artist ever played with washed out soundscapes like this. For every stomper like "Red Eyes" there's a twinkling interlude or ethereal wash like "Suffering". The album is at its strongest when it sounds like rolling down a gravel road, such as on the opener or the heartbreakingly beautiful "Eyes to the Wind." But the synths are important too, providing a sound to match the feeling of uncertainty and fear in the lyrics. "It's easier to stick with the old." "And in my darkest hour, can I be more than just a fool?" It could maybe be a little tighter in places, but it's a beautiful album that shows there are still new facets to explore in older, comfortable sounds.

Pretty good music.

Rather good dream-rock

Is this what the kids in Philly listen to when they edge?

This was a nice listen, but isn’t one I’m likely to revisit.

Not bad, good background music I'd say - well produced and with some heart, but not something to which to listen to *actively*.

Переслушать ночью!

I dig these guys. Perfect music to listen to outside on a sunny day while being nicely toasted.

I really love this album and want to give it a 5, it just has a few too many moments where nothing is happening, and kind of gets dinged for replay-ability.

decent

Give me drugs anyday

Repeat listen. I’d still rather be tuning into Kurt Vile. Original review: Like an ambient Tom Petty, or a smoothened out Kurt Vile, but less interesting than both

This sounds like it could've been made by one man in a basement. Drum machine galore. Excellent ambiance, dreamy vocals and OK guitar work. This album (and genre) will go down as "easy listening" for millennials 3.5

Enjoyed this one

I didn't dislike it but it was very middle of the road. If Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty had a love child, this is what their kid would sound like.

Couldn't listen to all of it, it was so boring it annoyed me

Pretty listenable soft indie but it feels a bit stagnant

I've heard of this band, but never heard them before. There's elements of a lot of things I like here, but I am pretty sure I'll never put this on again.

Nice surprise. Never listened to this before. Definite Dylan sounds which I love.

Loved this album when it came out, loved it more on this listen as it’s been years since I listened to it. Great guitar tones exploding songs into life. Good Americana vibes under the intense guitars. 4 stars because it gets a bit boring by the end and the energy doesn’t last the length of the album for me

The intro to Lost in the Dream was wonderful music. A deep melancholic album.

One of these songs sent me into a crazy depression and I don’t even know what they were saying. It just made everything dark. And it had a very appropriate name that I’ve now forgotten.

This bored me. Don Henley x Arcade Fire, but the Temu version.

Some nice musical moments, but a bit bland overall. Not particularly memorable.

Mixed bag, liked some, did not like others. Overall I wouldn't listen to this album again.

Warm jangly guitar pop - somehow with bob dylan singing

Boring

This was the record that turned me on to The War on Drugs. Great album, spacey psychedelia with a signature tone. Love this one.

8/10

Solid album with nice music and hard hitting lyrics.

This was kinda boring, almost as if Tame Impala got really into Tom Petty and wasn't as good as either of them. Not offensive just kinda boring.

Their write up on Spotify is so pretentious, it’s like it was written for Portlandia. So far, it sounds like a Don Henley / Fleetwood Mac cover band. First song absolutely references Boys of Summer by minute 3. It’s cute. But it’s not exactly innovative. A lot of this sounds like Arcade Fire. A lot is repetitive. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s easy listening, for the most part. But not new, not essential. Just nice. ⭐ 3/5

Started out slow for me, but the more I heard the more I liked it. 4 stars or B+.

need to relisten, but had a great atmosphere: void-full, transient

These songs build and build. When it works, it is absolutely triumphant. Sometimes they don't work, though.

I liked it at the time. But it wasn't a great time.

This album is pretty plain, and even insipid at many times. The thing is, sometimes the willingness to create atmospheres kills the actual interest or joy of listening to an album. There is a very popish side too that does not favour this kind of slow indie rock, which at times even becomes contradictory with the style of some of the songs. Sure, there are some nice songs, some tracks in which the more melodic aspect of the record really matches pretty well that slow, acoustic-like sound. The good thing is that it is listenable, even enjoyable or pleasant at certain moments, even cute and with some good melodies. But there is nothing really outstanding in that collection of songs, to be honest.

really chill, good music, got some slow groove in it

1) Under The Pressure 2) Red Eyes 3) An Ocean In Between The Waves Least Favourite: Lost In The Dream

Ikkje for meg

This could be a 5 for me with some more listens

Hipster bullshit

3.2 2x

Sorprendido gratamente

Probably one of the best of the decade.

The Wikipedia page for this album said that it was a solo album, and I 100% agree. Sometimes you can hear how the band has come together to make an album, which was missing here. Still good!

4/10

Really good album. Reminded me of Bruse Springsteen and Tom Petty.

This was a band that was so worth seeing live. This album has some of my favorite of their songs. Red eyes, An Ocean in Between the waves, and Burning are all excellent. Not every song on this album resonates but many are very good

Really enjoyed this one.

Cool production, but per usual with these albums I did not listen to the lyrics close enough. I'll be better.

I’ve heard under the pressure way back when it first came out. I always liked that song but never compelled to listen to anything else by them. And I think it’s because of the long boring outro. The album was what I expect. Under the pressure is the best song. His vocals have a hint of bob Dylan or mark knopfler. It’s fine.

La vrdad lo re disfrute!! me gusto mucho

I find this monotonous. Dylan and Springfield combined.

Most of the songs sound like versions of "Boys of Summer" but not successfully. A little too overproduced, especially the vocals, for me. 2/5 Won't listen again

Några godingar! Indierock, väldigt samma sound på alla låtar

It was great and had a relaxed feeling, the kinda feeling when your listening to peak music on a road trip and looking out the car window

um rock com uma mistura de eletronico, meio "neo", futurista, sla. nao conectei com a vibe nao. nota 2/10

This record literally feels like wandering through your dreams. Beautifully surreal atmosphere created by these slow, almost meditative guitar passages. It has this lushness to it that makes it very calming to my inner self. Sounds consistently bright and uplifting. I love the singer's energy, especially when he does the WOO! Red Eyes has long been one of my fav songs, but I underrated the rest of this album like crazy.

It’s interesting. I am vaguely familiar with this band. I am aware that they are grown on playlists I have going from time to time. But I have never felt compelled to investigate. And listening to this album I see why. It’s nice. It’s easy. It sounds like it could be the soundtrack for just about any Netflix show I’d rather skim through than watch. I have absolutely no idea what this album is doing on the list. Nothing about this made me feel it was required listening before my demise, nor would I recommend it to anyone else on those terms. But if they just wanted something non confrontational and easy while they did their laundry? Yeah. Here it is. 2 or 3? 2 or 3? Agh !!!! It’s pretty nice. 3 Boolean: FALSE

Talk about a millennial blast from the past. Underrated as holy hell. Soaring vocals evocative of Bob Dylan, a wall of synth and distorted guitar sounds somewhere between MBV and M83. Throw in a bit of surf rock reminiscent of the Beach Boys, and you get something absolutely magical.

Just a beautiful album. They have mastered their chosen style. I love the way their songs build and layer up and create this metronomic dream like state. No bad tracks, it all just flows to form a complete set of tracks. Not their very best album in my opinion, but very worthy of a 5th star.

There is a lot to like here, slow reverb soaked songs. I love a bit of reverb, but it was not enough to win me over completely. The songs seemed to drag on and merge into the next, all the way to the end. 10/10 for atmosphere 4/10 for the actual songs. I really was hoping for more from this band as I have heard so many positives, but what I got from it was worth a 2.5 to 3 stars.

Better than I remember

(Definitely not) fun fact: this was the first CD I put in my new car back in 2014, mainly for the epic first track. The rest of the album isn't as good as the start but it's still a solid, alternative listen. Top tracks: "Under the Pressure," "Red Eyes," "An Ocean in Between the Waves"

Ryan music as hell tbqh. Not really my speed. Unless I'm baked to my gourd. Kinda like MMJ more.

--Under the Pressure...oh, it's dreamy --Red Eyes...fun guitar build --Suffering...slinky guitar. easy listening. it's pleasant --An Ocean in Between the Waves...too long but it kicks --Disappearing...the lighter-raised-high song --Eyes to the Wind...shades of Seger. the Boss too --The Haunting Idle...instrumental. something a little sparse; ambient. appreciated --Burning...after the refreshing change of pace that is "the Haunting Idle", it's a bit disappointing to return to the vibe of the first six tracks. this is too much of the same --Lost in the Dream...lazy river stuff --In Reverse...there's a great 45 minute LP in here. too bad this one is 60

Not really sure what to say about this one. After approaching 350 albums now, the ones that are just ok, like this one, are a bit tough to write in length about. I’ve never heard of The War On Drugs before, but I love that name for a band. It’s funny, and I bet they’re on the side of the drugs. I’ll start by saying this. I had 2 favorite songs on this album, both good enough to add to my usual rotation. Those songs, respectively, were “Red Eyes”, and “Suffering”. Indie albums are so incredibly hit and miss to me at this point and it’s difficult telling a lot of them apart or remembering the ones I’ve already rolled. This is a very relaxing album. I’ll give it that. If I was ever in the mood to just chill out, perhaps if I was also on drugs, I might just pop this one on. The biggest problem I have with it, is that I’m not always in that mood. With a playtime of over an hour of chill music, you get the point very quickly. I don’t think this album takes any interesting swings, or attempts to do anything differently song to song. It’s all just kind of one long, slow, chill song for both better and worse. Rock is such a massive spectrum. Albums like this make me wonder if there should be something in between Folk and Rock that doesn’t already exist. This would be that. There are elements of guitar playing here and there, but they’re all very light flourishes. The singer is so soft spoken, I’d almost even call it Singer Songwriter. None of this is a criticism. I rather like all of that, just kind of marveling at how much of a spectrum Rock music covers, and how wildly different it can sound from artist to artist. Let’s talk about some of the influences of this album real quick. It’s apparently supposed to sound like 1980’s Rock. Specifically, he’s trying to sound like Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. Now, while I think he does a good job of sounding like Neil and Bruce, I can absolutely tell this came out in 2014. I don’t know exactly what gives it away, but it just sounds very similar to a lot of other indie albums from around the same time. This isn’t the first time I’ve said something like that about an album. I don’t even think this is the first time I’ve said that this week. Some decades are easy to spot, and this is one of them. Between my 2 favorites on this album, “Red Eyes” is full of life, spirit, and touches me on a personal level. Going to go ahead and reward that my favorite award for this album. Overall, it’s long, chill, a bit trippy, and I’m not likely to remember a lot of it, but I had fun with this album. Would return to it again. Fun weekend album. Excited to see what comes up next.

This was my second time listening to this album, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. I remember my initial reaction was that it sounds like “Tom Petty” in today’s culture as an indie rock artist. Overall, this album is a perfect blend of Heartland Rock, Indie Rock, with a little bit of Neo-Psychedelia. I’ve only heard this one album, but I definitely plan on listening to more from them. It’s a smooth and easygoing album that you can play on just about any occasion.

Red Eyes is a fantastic song. That's my review of the album.

Soft rock nonsense.

Great writing, great musically. Powerful stuff. Love War on Drugs

A little too long for yacht rock by way of Dire Straits

Nothing horrible on this album but nothing that stands out either. Just kind of boring.

feels like im drugged into the war

I'm showing my age here - I get the sense that many people on this site consider their musical heyday to be the 70s/80s, and likely attribute a sense of nostalgia to music from those times, which just makes them more likely to enjoy projects from those eras. That is the same for me, except I wasn't alive then, so my musical heyday really was from 2012-2019, and thus, anything from that time period just sparks an unrelenting nostalgia and fondness. For example, I find this objectively enjoyable; it feels like a coming of age, a realisation, like a confession, and a street at night, with rain misting the sky, the street-lights bleeding like wounds.

The first album that has really made me stop and relisten. Not a super playlist-able album but a great consistent vibe. John Mayer-esque at certain points

In a list that omits Warren Zevon, Lord Huron, Dawes, The Shins, Snow Patrol, Modest Mouse, Grandaddy, Damien Rice, Midlake and a host of others(not all in the same vein as The War On Drugs, I'm just venting a bit) I hear nothing this album contributes that others didn't do better. I'm not going to hold the shortcomings of this list against this album, but this album did little to either endear or offend, which is what gets a down-the-middle three stars from me.

An album where the title really represents the feeling of listening to it. Chugging and urgent, but takes its time to meander and get lost in the echoes of guitar. The backing synths complete the texture of sound. I've heard this many times and give it a 4/5.

Did Wilco and Tom Petty have a love child who in spite of their influence fell in love with Robin Guthrie's guitar as texture/atmosphere style. The way Granduciel's guitars shimmer and drift in the background of a track like "An Ocean in Between the Waves" or "Thinking of a Place" is deeply tied to the dream pop architecture Guthrie built in the late '80s and '90s. The War on Drugs anchors those atmospheric textures with a driving-down-the-highway beat and a rootsy, "heartland rock" foundation.

Good but faded into the background for me

very good i like how long all the songs are, the instrumentation is great and the production is good right up my alley

this is really quite lovely, but also a bit drab. i can see this being perfect if you're on a long drive whilst also feeling a bit sad - those kinds of vibes. other than that, it all just kind of blurs together. some of these songs have no right being as long as they are too.

Dire Straits, Springsteen, Dylan… what’s not to like?

I have never been against this band, but to me they don't really shine out. It's all pretty laid back, chill rock. It sounds like cowboy rock to me, which isn't a bad thing. It's just not ever going to be a top pick. Reminds me of Khruangbin.

Liker war on drugs!

Overall: 6/10 The influences are strong on this album. There wasn't a single song on here that didn't make me think of another artist. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the last thing I want out of an album is to be wishing that I was listening to someone else. These guys do what they do very well, but the songs could have been trimmed down a bit to make for a more pleasant experience. Fav Song: An Ocean in Between the Waves

Lowk good

Many of these tracks make me think that this is what Dylan would have done if he had been fifty years later or Tom Petty forty years later. It's a band, not a single artist though. It has an indie-rock production feel - in the mold of Tame Impala, Portugal the Man, and such. It's chill, sort of like Khruangbin. Not objectionable, a little steady-eddy - meaning lacking in dynamics. It's okay for background listening music, but I can't say it grabs me or impresses me much. I'm not surprised I've never heard of them before. It's fine I suppose, if you really enjoy this style. Since nothing strikes me either good or bad, this is the definition of a 3 star effort to me.

Feels like a thinking album had it on while I stared out the window thinking. I do think that it might be a little long but that might be my cooked attention span

prima eigenlijk ik vind best nice t is soort van bob dylan

i heard this before and thought it was unremarkable noise upon relisten it's kinda markable noise

Kinda sounds like many other artists from this time , nothing memorable a good background listen

Lekker album!

Not bad, throwback to Bob Dylan sort of songwriting

Banger after banger. Easy 5 star for me

I had a friend that was into this album on an intense level. I never could get into it despite it fitting most of the things I find enjoyable.

I liked this one but I wasn't super into it. Sounded nice, the songs had a chill almost melancholy vibe. Best song: Red Eyes Notable(s): none

The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream I already know and love this album but on relisten I confirmed that it’s an absolute classic with no bad tracks. Whooo!. Alright!!! Standout tracks: Under the pressure Red Eyes An Ocean In Between the Waves Disappearing Eyes To The Wind Burning Lost in the Dream In Reverse ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Сара 4 Марко 3

Sounds older than is

I tried listening to this album laying down with my eyes closed, but I was still tired and worried the vibe would lull me asleep, so I got up and let this album soundtrack my relaxed, errand-focused morning. The opening seconds of Lost in the Dream immediately set the tone for the album to follow, with a couple out-of-step, desynced drum lines destabilizing my expectations for a typical lo-fi indie rock project. The War on Drugs executes a reverbed, spacey take on indie rock, big grand keys and guitar riffs soaked in echoes. It feels in line with Americana albums, with my most immediate point of reference being The Killers' Pressure Cooker, though with a far more psychedelic take on the sound. While I have my own personal friction with some songs here, specifically in some instances where the energy slows down and the vocals get a bit buried behind all the fuzz and reverb to the point that I lose some connection, but for someone who typically has a hard time staying engaged in similar-sounding indie rock projects, the level of enjoyment I got out of Lost in the Dream was a welcome surprise. Highlights: Under The Pressure, Red Eyes, An Ocean In Between The Waves, Eyes To The Wind, The Haunting Idle, Burning, In Reverse

I don't know if I needed to listen to this before I die, but it's up my alley

This album is so 2014 it's painful. I'm not a fan of this era. Generally, unoffensive background music. But then the vocals come in with that breathy/nasally thing and it is just so irritating. It's not just this band, it's that whole era of alt-folk. Also, this sounds extremely over-produced.

It was a pleasant album.. but kinda the same idea developed the same way on each tune. Two stars

(77/100)

nice, love the lyrics but I feel something is off to make it a greater album.

You're not bob dylan mate. It's ok. No variety at all. Pretty good for 2014 I guess because music was evolving into what it is today: a bunch of horse-shit. Anyway, it's fine. Won't be listening again.

7/10

Magnificent shit.

Basically everything about this album is great, especially the atmosphere it gives, but to me it's kinda forgettable I really enjoyed it tho!

It’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with it.

6 - AVERAGE

Pretty good. I don’t mind a little jamminess, but 8+ minutes can be a bit laborious (ie, the opening track), and the vocals are a bit like 80’s Dylan (not a good thing); otherwise, it’s well-crafted mood rock!

Reassuring. Trippy. Flow state in an album.

WHY WAS EVERY INTRO AND OUTRO 5 MINUTES?????

Great album, has a very specific vibe.

I like the dreamy, melodic, chill vibes but there is a samey quality to the music that starts to get boring after a while. The Bruce Springsteen influence is very obvious, to the point where it sometimes feels like too much of a copy. Also the album is too long.

Fine, struck me as a little bland and unremarkable. I think the lyricism is probably important and I didn't pay it that much attention. Sorry.

I always liked this album. It lives somewhere between Phil Collins and Bruce Springsteen but in a more modern context. There’s a flow to this album that’s immaculate. My only gripe is some of these songs overstay their welcome a bit but all in all it’s a great album.

I would consider this good music for in the background when you’re bored laying upside down in your bed I guess.

Really good and chill indie rock album. I found myself less interested in the more Americana/Bob Dylan-esque songs that dominate the 2nd half, but nothing too offensive or unlistenable that would drop the album quality too much. Very fun listen overall. Top tracks: Under the Pressure, Red Eyes, Disappearing

I love some of the songs on this album and they're so good I've never got sick of them. Red Eyes, Under the Pressure, An Ocean Between the Waves. I'd give this a 4 but in doing that I don't really know what albums would deserve a 5 when I like this much about it. Not everything can be Rumours, can it? All this despite hating Dylan who's clearly in there somewhere. Fuck it. 5 it is.

Used to love this at 17/18 but oh my God what a snoozefest now. How the hell did it get on this list? Sax is sometimes cool.

me gusto... definitivamente va a tener un relistening