Lost In The Dream

Good vibes whilst on the plane home for Christmas.

The music was nice but I couldn't tell you anything that they sung about though as the lyrics just seemed to get lost in the music.

Pleasant and forgettable

I see the appeal. I actually like all the noisy experimental dirges that lose their way from the original song structure and dont feature vocals. The vocals are very take it or leave it, not bad. Its cool. I dont know anyone that NEEDS to hear this before they die.

Mystical and ethereal sounds. First track was the opening completely to this amazing album and band which I didn't knew until I heard it, the mix between pot-rock ambient sounds and an indie sound is incredible, really liked it.

Nice background music, but unremarkable.

3.5

i liked this i thought it was easy to listen to and had chill vibes

Honestly, started off with a ratcheting noise and then warbling tremolo guitar, and those are my least favourite noises in the world so my view was tainted from the 0:00 mark. What follows is dreary, dreamy, pretentious indie bullshit, so in hindsight the 0:01 mark was the high point. Its not 1 star bad, but it's like 1.5 stars....

Hazy beach vibes

Not my type of music but a very important album to me

Great music for an elevator

This album is odd. It has a unique sound which I really like and it's also great in terms of quality of production. However, the flow is quite monotone and all songs are indistinguishable from each other. It lacks a hit or two. Very good background music, though.

The first song was good, and the rest kinda blended into one another. I might go back to this, but overall i remember thinking slightly positive on it.

Someone asked ChatGPT for Springsteen songs with a young Bob Dylan singing and this came out

At least this album's better than that '80s record I reviewed yesterday. There were a few boring songs on "Lost in the Dream". I loved "Red Eyes"; it deserves its fame. The song's guitar riff in the middle is simply perfect. The other tracks aren't worth mentioning. 3 stars for "Lost in the Dream".

Never heard of the band or album, no expectations. First song starts off good it’s fun. Songwriting isn’t special but I like the production a lot. Really cool intro too. A little long but cool nonetheless the less. Red eyes is fun too, this band is more abt music than catchy choruses which I can respect. Find myself tapping my foot along to the beat. Suffering is super emotional, piano and keyboard riffs are sick. Don’t usually like sad songs but this one is doing something to me. First 3 songs all good. I like an ocean as well but not as much as the rest, good not great song. Better songwriting, not as good production. Disappearing is another good one, this album is super cohesive. Eyes to the wind is another one that’s not the best of all time but just a good song. The haunting idle is interesting. Good music, cool bridge song but a little too long. I like burning too, another emotional but fun song. Lost in the dream has some Bob Dylan vibes with the harmonica. Again good not great. In reverse is a really good closer. There’s no one song that I’d say is a commercial hit, but the album as a whole is a really good easy listen. 3.2 stars

Like an even more intentional combination of Springsteen & Destroyer re Poison Season. Plus a little Dire Straights in there

Los conozco y he oído algo de pasada, no termino de saber dónde encajan musicalmente. Veremos. Se deja oír, pero a mí no me ha emocionado. Me guardo las dos primeras "Under the pressure" y sobre todo "Red eyes".

- valmistautukaa viiden tähden arvioon, i fucking love this album - tän bändin löytäminen flow festareilla on yks mun elämäni kauneimmista kokemuksista, ja se tapahtui juuri tämän levyn kiertueella - lämmin toiveikkuus joka näistä albumin biiseistä huokuu on aivan mieletöntä

This one was pretty good. Looks back at the sounds of the 80s with fresh eyes and modern sensibilities (there's even a Dylan-inspired track!), with a few more experimental-y bits mixed in. It all just sounds very deliberate. Could see myself listening again. Fav tracks: Under The Pressure, Suffering

This is a night driving album. I listened to it through the day and liked it, but in the evening I needed to take a short drive and it was superb. The music fits empty roads and streetlights passing overhead.

Great album

This was an extremely emotional listen on a rainy bus journey home through Edinburgh.

Surprising that I liked it. It's a good background album.

I liked it. Good background music that is pleasant to listen to.

Great to reconnect with this one

Like Dylan/Tom Petty had a kid Depressing jams with impressive soundscapes

This album is from 2014, but it sounds like it could be from just about any decade from the 1970s onward. I notice a bit of Bruce Springsteen vibe in here also. Overall, it’s clean, easy to listen to music. Additional listenings might result in a higher rating, but alas we’re moving on.

More unknown-to-me recent indie? Hmm. Well, it's alright. Not noisy or annoying, but doesn't have any particular unique features (vocally/musically/lyrically) to draw me in. Maybe some unpopular things are unpopular for a reason. Also, all of the songs are 50% too long.

LOVEDDDDD OMG

The sound is a little too ambient and sunshiny for me. But i can hear that there is more to this. Many of the songs seem to go on too long. I’d like to give it another listen, but for now, it’s a 3.

Reverby, ambient soundscapes with some Bruce Springsteen vibes. Meticulously produced. Long instrumental passages mean that you can sometimes drift away while listening. Sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a not so good way. Fairly melancholic. Good vocals. Guitars are crisp and tight but not particularly experimental. Good listen overall but a bit slow paced for my tastes. Maybe needs a second listen to fully appreciate. Favourite track - Red Eyes. 7.5/10

Not a fan of Springsteen and this is just as boring as it was 10 years ago when it came out.

Nice but generic indie rock album. Fav track was probably Suffering.

Not my type of music but actually really enjoyed. Would never relisten 🤷🏼‍♀️

Standardni prošlodecenijski neinspirisani podosadni indie.

Fantastic

I've heard of the artist before, but was basically completely unaware of the music prior to listening to this. The production is pretty interesting, and there's definitely a vibe going on here. I don't hate this, and would like to listen to it again in the future. At times, the vocals sound like Paul Simon trying to do an impersonation of Bob Dylan in the 1960s... and it's surprisingly not a bad combination.

A combination of Springsteen, Tom Petty. It’s okay.

Buen disco. Me gustó escucharlo. Lo recomiendo.

Really good album. Varied tracks, need to give it another listen sometime.

Beautiful production; lyrically solid; some of the songs do drag on a bit

savršeno

Njihov najbolji album

Mucho había oído sobre The War On Drugs pero no había escuchado nada todavía. Lo cierto es que me he quedado bastante frío. Muchos vibes de Bon Dylan para un indie, en mi paladar, insulso. Un par de melodías y arreglos con acierto pero nada como para tirar cohetes. En general, me he aburrido bastante.

A favorite of mine. Sounds both incredibly classic but also all on its own somehow. Reminds me of everything, but still has so much its own sound. Love it.

War on Drugs is a well known name. post rock/rockNroll sounding musicwith multiple instruments blend in. melody driven and dreamy, honestly their music is dragging. for your information i listen to Long music. Earth2, SunnO, Drose, khanate, boris, mono and Swans. overall wise War on Drugs is the hippie version of Mogwai with to much Pink Floyd influence.

Decent - would be happy to listen again

This sounds like every famous artist from the 70s-80s combined. I could spot Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, etc. at some point in here

Nice chill album, liked it a lot

I liked it. There were some Americana Bruce Springsteen vibes that I really liked towards the end of the album. However some of did blend in a bit so conservatively going for a 3 star, could be upgraded to 4 at a later date.

Its a solid album, but didn't really excite me.

meh

Belas canções atmosféricas, mas foram poucas as que, de fato, me mobilizaram

Not exceptional.

Just like the real war on drugs it sounds okay but there really isn't much to it.

Indie, emotional, praised. What's not to love? Well I guess I liked it from a distance. Overall, the sounds are pleasant but the overall product is boring.

One of those bands I’ve heard of but never got to hear until now. A beautifully plodding, synth supported rock album on the soft and gentle side but with a lot of tasty electric guitar work. Kinda sounds like a mid-80s Canadian folk-rock album or something like that. Definitely want to spin this a few more times as well as listen to more of their catalogue. For now though it doesn’t strike me as necessary listening but who knows after multiple spins?

This album is one of those rare ones that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a place you step into. It’s drenched in atmosphere, with shimmering guitars, steady drum patterns, and vocals that seem to drift in and out like smoke. Everything is layered in a way that builds a kind of endless horizon, and once it starts, it’s almost impossible not to get swept along. There’s a bittersweet calmness here, the kind that lingers long after the record ends. What makes it so striking is how seamless it all feels. Tracks like “Under the Pressure,” “Red Eyes,” and “An Ocean in Between the Waves” are sprawling but never lose their momentum. The songs don’t rush to make a point; they breathe, they stretch, they let the emotion build slowly. There’s a real sense of movement throughout the album, like a long drive where the scenery keeps changing but the feeling stays the same. It’s a record that works as both a deep listen and a quiet companion. The textures are rich, the melodies are subtle but powerful, and the mood never wavers. Lost in the Dream captures a kind of restless yearning that’s hard to put into words, and it does it with effortless grace. It’s one of those albums that doesn’t just play in the background — it settles into your bones.

282/1089 - Drums are boring and they need to trim the fat overall in all the songs.

sehr vibey, meh so öbbis woni wür im hintergrund losa

This was decent enough but a little generic. I don't think it will be very memorable.

I didn't thought it was going to be as ambient sounding as it is, despite that, it's soft, it's personal and lovely all the way through.

Insanely boring

A great, moody album. Maybe moody isn't the right word but the somber feeling that communicates the pressure of depression, it's expertly portrayed on this album. It all sounds excellent, and the album is an introspective one without being too sad to listen to.

I like a lot of the tempos and textures, the noise rock and trance-like elements, I really do. Bob Dylan-Bruce Springsteen vibes vocally. BUT WHY IS IT SO LONG

Довольно спокойный и мелодичный инди-рок, для своего года выхода очень старомодно звучащий - как смитс или кьюр, но более воздушно. Вообще в звуке очень много эмбиента, реверба, задумчивости и пространства, хоть это и не шугейз, а как раз ближе к нью-вейву по духу. Хороший альбом, немного факультативный, но очень приятный.

This starts off great and in other parts also good. But too many atmospheric slow songs. Suppose depends on your mood. Needs a bit more bite in places

Their meandering style has never really worked for me, and it will take a lot to convince me that I urgently needed to listen to this before I died

Favourite track: Eyes To The Wind Very enjoyable, lovely vocals and atmospheric guitar.

Niet zo vet

This was an interesting listen. Lost in the Dream is an homage to a very specific style of music, I won't even say genre: 80's male American solo artist rock. The touchstones here are Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and more than anyone else, Bruce Springsteen. If you like Born in the USA period Bruce, you'll probably love this one. There is also a touch of Dire Straits here as well (maybe because I just listened to Brothers in Arms?), in that the songs are many times stretched way beyond what they need to be. Empty repeating sections where nothing is added or changed, it's just another 32 bars of the same. It's good driving music. Next time I'm on a serious roadtrip I'll probably throw this one on. THREE STARS

Bob Dylan sings Springsteen Heartland music with a hint of Joshua Tree era U2 thrown into the mix. Did I say Don Henley? He's in there too. A pastiche of sounds that make for easy-late night listening, or meandering the American landscapes. This shouldn't work for me, and sometimes it doesn't. But sometimes I need the comforts it brings.

Really good album some great guitar sounds. Ignore the grumpy old men giving it 1 or 2

A solid rock record that unfortunately never reached the height it promised

4/7

Dreary

I read that The War On Drugs was an indie rock band with various influences. However, what I hear on “Lost In The Dream” is technically well-crafted mainstream pop rock, which, in my opinion, is heavily influenced by Dire Straits. However, it lacks Mark Knopfler's unique characteristics and—since the album was released in 2014 rather than the 1970s—any innovative power. It's very good to listen to in the background, but of course there are a hundred other similarly good options out there.

Nice, calm, full of beautiful melodies.

A throwback classic rock album, but with enough mystery and great songs to make it work. Fantastic album.

An integral part of any Australian teenager's music mix. What a beautiful album. Full of humanity and layering of pleasant sounds, a blessing for the ears and soul. A complicated, restless, slightly neurotic band leader meant this album is the product of a year-long, gruelling process of recording, revising and scrapping. But man does it pay off. I think it is the band's most lustrous, intricately detailed and beautifully rendered record to date. This is an album that reminds me to invest in good headphones. Older albums are remastered and reformed to be perfectly registered in a portable device. This album does not need any revisions; it is utterly perfect.

While I can hear influences from 2000s bands like Radiohead, The Killers, and Tycho, this album has a floating atmosphere defined by strong reverb, slide guitar, and a subtle bluesy touch. Many tracks share a similar mood, and the longer song lengths can make it feel a bit drawn-out at times. I can see why they have an indie vibe — their music leans toward a more artistic and introspective side rather than anthemic songwriting.

oooooh... only know a handful of songs by them, but never listened to their discography before. fun!

Really nice album. In Reverse was a standout track for me.

BYD Seal, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Sehr schönes Album.

What’s almost worse than Bob Dylan? A moron doing a shite Dylan impression over music your mum would like.

Solid!

Listening to this album as a whole really opened my eyes to this band. Combines everything I love in music.

Such a good mix of prog indie and anericana. Fantastic listen

This is an absolute delight, which I’d never heard before. There’s a very 80s tone to some of the songs, very lush and layered, but it’s also kind of sad.

Boring and predictable.

Dreamy vamp, reminds me of a modern Tom Petty or Bob Dylan

4 stars. I liked a few of the songs, but some were just too much.

These songs are interminable. Complete vibe album that wishes to journey nowhere else but the same 3 foot by 3 foot space. That's fine for those who want it, but I find this terribly dull.

I finished listening 39 seconds ago and have already forgotten everything. I don't understand why this is on the list; it just doesn't stand out in any way shape or form. Not catchy enough to be great poppy, not edgy enough to be great rock, not experimental enough to be great avant garde or alternative. It's definitely a well-executed album, like don't get me wrong, it's not bad and I can see it really appealing to hardcore fans of indie rock, in the same tier as other greats like Arcade Fire and The National, but it shouldn't be in the canon of albums you need to hear before you die and those latter bands have much more interesting albums than this, in my opinion.

I put it on a few times, got half way through and realized I hadn't heard anything. Started again and turned it up. How do they get such big fonts on festival lineups? I guess snoozecore is big with the kids. Soft rock with minimal, repetetive instrumentation and lullaby singing. I once read a review that said The XX is music for sleeping babies. I like The XX, but could not find the lie. An Ocean In Between the Waves and Burning do pick up, but most of the latter half coasts on Pink Floyd vibes. Disappearing sounds like it could be a languid cut from The Division Bell, but unfortunately David Gilmore or Roger Waters never turn up. I think theyre too quick to judge drugs.

Immediately, I like the sounds of the slightly out of tune piano on the opening track "Under the Pressure". There is a lot of Bruce Springsteen influence on this track, which I really like. There is also a really cool super verby guitar panned to the right halfway through the song. I feel like this track also has a great use of synths that maybe the 80s went too ham on. The drum beat that comes in at 4:30 is also fantastic added with this build with horns and stuff. So nice. As I move through the album, a standout for me is the ambient guitar work. It is so nice and the tones that were chosen were very appropriate for each track. This is a really well produced album. Lost In the Dream takes a lot of the elements of the 80s and refines them. Whether that is a drum machine, a synth, the ambient guitars, the only thing missing is some ear-wormy vocal melodies. This is a great album to have on in the background while you are cleaning or eating or taking a long drive. Lyrically, the story of the album is depression and anxiety and there are many reoccurring themes of being left behind or hurting. "and you see me pull away again/ haven't lost it on a friend/ just a bit run down at the moment/ yeah, I'm all alone here" from "Eyes to the Wind"

For a 2014 album this sounds very 80s to me. I don't know if it's the tibres or the cords or the eq but something in the music made me feel uncomfortable? Tense might be the right word. And I'm sure for normal people listening to this is probably relaxing but as i listened to it i kept thinking "what is that" and "why do i feel so uneasy" before remembering it's the music. like having a random rock in your shoe. I think the way i don't like this is like the difference between eating bad food and food you're allergic to. I think I'm allergic to whatever's in this

This album makes me want to do drugs which seems like a common side effect of things called war on drugs. I can imagine the exact show they would put on and I want to go. His voice is just so cozy and their sound is so comforting.

I’ve actually been saving this record because I love it so much. I only knew War on Drugs by name really when I got tickets to see them play the Bowl. I was a fan of a few of the songs I’d heard but had never dove in all the way. I knew it was music I’d dig and it’d be a good soundtrack for a few cold ones. I was blown away. The songwriting is sincere without being saccharine. The musicianship is impressive without being alienating. It’s nostalgic without being kitsch. It feels like an album I’ve known my entire life without being able to recite the words. It feels like the soundtrack to moments in my life that I haven’t lived yet. There’s a warmth hear that feels like the hearth of a childhood home that has long been ashes. The way space is used in here is incredible. As a fan of The Mars Volta and The Grateful Dead, I really love interludes of ambient music that enhance the scene. Like a long sustained shot panning over the environment in the middle of a scene. Under the pressure feels like the perfect opener. The outro feels like the draw of the band so Red Eyes can slingshot you into indie soft rock nirvana.

Lowkey murky.

After dozens of listens in the background while clicking Excel in an office, I finally listened to the lyrics and cringed a bit. Music is still fantastic, voice could be better

Listening feels like eating candy.

First time listening to this band and I love this album. Will have to check out some of their other stuff

This was a pleasant surprise. Already in my streaming library for some reason. Actually quite enjoyed it.

Same tone all the way through. Love under the pressure though

Il y a des disques qui s'écoutent et puis il y a ceux qui se vivent. Ceux qui, dès les premières secondes, ne s'invitent pas poliment dans tes oreilles mais te foutent de force sur le siège passager d'une vieille bagnole américaine, te balancent une carte routière chiffonnée sur les genoux et te hurlent : « On se casse ! ». "Lost in the Dream" de The War On Drugs est de cette trempe-là. C'est l'album de l'évasion, la bande-son parfaite pour tracer sur une autoroute sans fin, le soleil couchant dans le rétroviseur et un putain de vide immense devant soi. Un vide qui n'est pas angoissant, non, mais rempli de promesses et de mélancolie. Je vais être direct, parce qu'on n'a pas de temps à perdre. La première fois que j'ai écouté ce disque, une seule pensée a traversé mon esprit de vieux con blasé : « Mais bordel, j'ai déjà entendu ça mille fois ! ». Et c'est là tout le génie et la limite du truc, car Adam Granduciel, le cerveau du groupe, n'a rien inventé. Il a passé son adolescence, comme nous, à user jusqu'à la corde les vinyles de ses aînés. Et ça s'entend à chaque virage, à chaque pont, à chaque putain de solo de guitare. Ferme les yeux, tu entends quoi ? Tu entends le Bruce Springsteen de Darkness on the Edge of Town. Tu entends le Bob Dylan de la fin des années 70, celui qui cherche un second souffle, mais qui aurait découvert les joies des pédales de delay et de la reverb. Tu entends les guitares cristallines et planantes de Mark Knopfler de Dire Straits. Tu entends Tom Petty, Neil Young... C'est un blind-test permanent, un hommage si vibrant et si parfaitement digéré qu'il frôle le plagiat de génie. Mais attention, ce n'est pas un simple exercice de style pour nostalgiques. Pour nous, les mecs nés dans les années 70, c'est presque une évidence, cette musique, c'est notre ADN. C'est la radio qui crachote dans la bagnole des parents, c'est le son des premières virées en mobylette, c'est l'écho lointain de nos espoirs et de nos désillusions adolescentes. Granduciel a réussi à capter cette essence, ce sentiment universel de liberté un peu triste, et à le propulser en 2014 avec une production monumentale. Car c'est là que The War On Drugs transcende ses influences. Le son, putain, ce son ! C'est ample, c'est aérien, c'est brumeux. Les synthés nappent l'horizon comme un brouillard matinal sur une plaine du Midwest. Les boîtes à rythmes, implacables et motoriques, martèlent un tempo qui pousse toujours vers l'avant, comme le bitume qui défile sous les roues. C'est cette fameuse rythmique "motorik", héritée du krautrock, qui donne à l'album sa pulsation hypnotique. Et par-dessus tout ça, il y a les guitares. Des cascades de guitares, des solos qui ne sont pas là pour la branlette technique, mais pour étirer le temps, pour peindre des paysages sonores, pour faire pleurer le ciel. Des morceaux comme « Under the Pressure » ou « Red Eyes » sont des monuments, ils durent 8 minutes, mais on voudrait qu'ils ne s'arrêtent jamais. C'est une musique du mouvement, mais une musique de l'introspection. Granduciel aurait écrit cet album en pleine dépression, luttant contre l'anxiété et la paranoïa. Et ça se sent, car derrière l'énergie quasi euphorique des rythmes, il y a une fêlure, une solitude poisseuse. C'est la BO d'une fuite en avant, d'un type qui roule pour échapper à ses propres fantômes. C'est le paradoxe de ce disque : il donne envie de liberté, d'espaces infinis, mais il nous ramène sans cesse à nos propres angoisses, à nos propres rêves perdus. "Lost in the Dream" le titre est parfait. Alors pourquoi 4/5 et pas le Graal ultime ? Justement à cause de cette sensation de déjà-vu. C'est brillant, c'est magnifique, c'est l'un des meilleurs albums de sa décennie, sans aucun doute. C'est un compagnon de route idéal, mais il manque peut-être cette étincelle de pure folie, cette rupture totale qui fait les chefs-d'œuvre absolus. C'est un chef-d'œuvre de synthèse, peut-être, mais pas une révolution. C'est le disque qu'on aurait tous rêvé de faire si on avait eu le talent de Granduciel et le répertoire de nos idoles à portée de main. "Lost in the Dream" est une bénédiction, c'est un disque qui réconcilie le passé et le présent, qui prouve qu'on peut encore faire de la grande musique américaine, épique et intime, sans tomber dans la caricature. Branchez le jack, baissez la vitre, et laissez-vous porter. La route est longue et magnifique.

Paul Simon, Talk Talk influences. Cosy folk, rock and ambient vibes.

Love it, bought it back in the day. Dreamy.

por momentos está muy bueno, pero es super repetitivo

Interesting

I caught on to this one a couple of years after its release, but just in time to help me process what 2016 wrought on this country and my state of mind. Perfectly chill

I found this pleasant and smooth which made it a great work companion. It may have been a little too mellow: my boss walked by my desk and thought I was on hold during a phone call lol. This record is great for zoning in - or zoning out. It was also a bit too long.

Very mellow. Would be great studying or reading.

This album was a pleasant surprise for me. Started great and continues as a a solid 2010's alternative album. Kinda drags on a little too long, crossing the hour mark. Overall solid.

Ambient, moody, has this referential quality to classic rock but reinterprets it in a tasteful way. Problem is, this album is very same-y. Same progressions and drums, very repetitve. Has one trick and does it well, but it is one trick

actually enjoyed it, very 2014

Sounds like Dylan and I love Dylan

Yep, sounds like Don Henley. Did we need another? It's fine, but very little variation between tracks.

Their biggest album and their breakthrough. My least favorite but still fantastic.

4.5 Love this album just saving my 5's for truly massive drops and I feel like I'll hold off.

This album probably isn't everyones cup of tea but I liked it a lot. Sorta the Killers meet Bruce Springsteen vibes. It's not perfect, but it makes a good argument for 5 stars. 4 stars, but maybe almost a 5.

No real feelings towards this one. Not great, not offensive. Would make a good movie car scene soundtack

Very good, favourite track was disappearing. I really liked the ethereal sounding instrumentals

Favorite Track: Red Eyes

Restful rock is what I call this genre. Loved it. Nighttime plane ride looking out the window took this to the next level.

Wasn't the vibe for the day

This album sounds like generic Gap shopping music. There’s nothing remarkable about it. The songs are entirely too long and self-indulgent. It’s like a train chugging along a track to absolutely nowhere. The singer kinda sounds like a baby Bob Dylan, and that’s no good for me. It’s easily one of the most boring albums I’ve ever had the displeasure of listening to. Finding poignancy on this album feels as futile as the actual war on drugs.

Day 61, 11th record I own. The War on Drugs is to Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty as Tame Impala is to John Lennon. This band is the exception to the rule of ‘00s bands not using an article at the start of their name. The Strokes and the White Stripes started in the 90s, don’t @ me. I legit believe labels and managers asked bands to drop the “the” a la Facebook. Gotta catch this band live soon!

Finally growing in to liking the War on Drugs. Listened to their stuff over the years on the Indie stations and forgot that there was an album from them in the book. Red Eyes is already a song that I listen to regularly and is in my playlist and this record was a very nice listen. I'd give this a high rating solely for my enjoyment on the genre, but I think there are some really good instrumentals and productions that make this a great 2010s Indie album.

Bon album, les voix, la mélodie, tout y était.

Chill

Fantastic album, such a classic 70s sound, perfectly combined with modern sound and production.

Like a moody ambient dream. Moving flawlessly in and out of sleepy rock through lackadaisical Americana. This is an amazing album full of stellar tracks. Stoner gold.

Ehh

got lost in this dream

Found myself really wanting to play it again and again.

I had some mild skepticism at first, but this is a beautiful record. Give it some time and it will get into your bones.

1. Pressure -1.5 2. Red - 1 3. Suffering -1.5 4. Ocean - 1.5 5. Disappearing - 2 6. Eyes - 1 7. Haunting - 2 8. burning - 1.5 9. Dream - 1 10. Reverse - 1.5

Prior to listening, I was unfamiliar with both The War on Drugs and their album, "Lost in the Dream". I found it to be a pleasant, unobtrusive listen. The album meandered through its 10 tracks, but nothing truly grabbed my attention. Rather than recognizing a clear identity, each song had me reaching for its influences. For example, "Under the Pressure" immediately brought to mind the vocal inflections of Bob Dylan, a resemblance that surfaced at other points on the album. Later, "Eyes to the Wind" vocally reminded me of Tom Petty. The music was pretty, with an indie guitar sound and soundscapes reminiscent of the Eno era of U2. At times, there was an impassioned, heartfelt delivery, that had a Springsteen-esque quality. The album continued in this vein, never causing an allergic reaction and occasionally offering some nice guitar flourishes, but it failed to evoke an emotional reaction in me. By the fifth track, I was waiting for something to happen, wondering what the build-up was for. "The Haunting Idle" provided an atmospheric soundscape that didn't really go anywhere, morphing seamlessly into "Burning," which, despite being a bit more up-tempo, felt like more of the same. A wasted opportunity? Ultimately, "Lost in the Dream" just meandered to its conclusion. I can recognise why some folks would really love this album, and I can also recognise why some would loath it. For me, I'm indifferent to it - Three stars. 1 "Under the Pressure" (3/5) 2 "Red Eyes" (3/5) 3 "Suffering" (3/5) 4 "An Ocean in Between the Waves" (3/5) 5 "Disappearing" (3/5) 6 "Eyes to the Wind" (3/5) 7 "The Haunting Idle" (3/5) 8 "Burning" (3/5) 9 "Lost in the Dream" (3/5) 10 "In Reverse" (3/5) Total - 30 Average - 3 120/1001 63/120 albums reviewed were new to me.

I liked this album, it was reminding me at times of Dire Straits and even Paul Simon. I was mowing the lawn while listening to it so I feel like I do owe it another listen.

Solid album, more like a 3.5, though I'll say I could see this being a 4 or even a 5 had I discovered it when it was new. At this point it's a little dated and of a specific time, but I definitely enjoyed it. Can hear influences from Bruce, Dylan, and the Cure. Also reminds me of Future Islands, which I like as well.

This is one of my favorite bands of the last 20 years, so I’m biased (they started in Philly to boot). Some songs can be a little long, and while they sound similar I feel like it’s more thematic than repetitive. What I love about the War on Drugs is the hypnotic sound of their songs - the production, the arrangements, the tones, the vibe, the synths, etc even if I remember those more than specific songs. A little lap steel here, a little bari sax there, a little Leslie speaker here…keeps it interesting and well rounded. Adam Granduciel has a unique voice that still sounds a little bit like a lot of different people (Dylan? Bruce? Tom Petty? Ryan Adams? Win Butler?). I think the perfectionist feel and melodicism is what sets them apart from other similar indie bands. Great lyrics too if you can actually discern (or read) them. I’m a fan

Actually very enjoyable. Some real nostalgia coming off this too. Red eyes is genuinely a great song.

2/10 not quite my tempo

Reminded me of (the best of) Ryan Adams and alt-country broadly construed. A good record.

Reminded me of Bob Dylan and Tom petty

Самый дримовый хартлэнд рок, что я слышал. Срочно нужно на виниле.

boring

Wow I did not like that. Like it wasn't horrible but damn I was bored.

It’s indie, it’s nice, but what makes it stand out? I’m not too sure.

Nicht mein Fall aber entspannte und stimmige Musik

Lovely!

This was alright. There were points where I could hear a strong Paul Simon or Bob Dylan influence and I really enjoyed the sound, but overall I was just kinda unimpressed with the music. It was good, but not great. Three stars.

This would be good if anything happened. A complete nothingburger. 1.5/5

Better than Coldplay

Dazzling must hear album from a wonderful band

I liked this but didn't love it

Very middle of the road rock music. Pretty quickly became background music. Now and then a melody would catch my ear but overall nothing stood out.

Hmmm.. maybe some drugs would make your music better...

Very much my style of music. Enjoyed the easy going nature of some of the songs, will absolutely listen again.

Another of those bands whose name I was familiar with but the music not so much. Started off okay, pleasant sounding tune that moved along well, until it didn't end. These guys have a serious problem of not knowing when a song should be over. An unhealthy addiction to reverb too.

I love this album. Easy 5 stars. It is a masterpiece of songwriting, performing and recording. I saw another review call it "Don Henley as performed by The Killers" and they may be on to something...but if it is a guilty pleasure, I'm not complaining! I just connect with the music and have ever since I saw their Tiny Desk Concert during the pandemic. My wife and friends have a joke with me - whenever a song by this band comes on, they go "hey it's that one War on Drugs song!" (because a lot of them do sound quite similar). I think the hits tend to have that common anthemic Springsteen 80's thing but there is a lot more depth to their records and this is a great example of it. The production here is just amazing and to me this is really an album you can sit inside of and hang out for a while.

War on my patience

Not memorable.

I don’t get it

cant hear the vocals wthelly not stunning

An excellent album that completely passed me by until now. Steeped in 1980s American AOR without slipping into that decade’s worst production mistakes. A lot of the album is vocally and musically reminiscent of The Waterboys, particularly the opening “Under the Pressure”, which stretches to 9 minutes including a wonderful dreamy ambient coda, and “Eyes to the Wind”, a lovely track with a nice saxophone solo. There are other influences evident in songs like “Disappearing” (Tango in the Night-era Fleetwood Mac; atmospheric, etherial guitars and keyboards, drum machines), “An Ocean in Between the Waves” (Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and, especially, “Boys of Summer” by Don Henley). There is not a bad track on the album but other highlights include “The Haunting Idle” which is truly haunting with freeform drones and ambient guitars and keys. “Suffering” is slow and deliberately paced, and really powerful. All these influences could be really messy in less-skilled hands but Adam Granduciel corrals everything into a homogeneous sound that is familar yet also new. I loved this.

painfully generic. This kind of album is not one I hoped to listen to on this 1001 albums journey, stopped at around 24 mins in and started listening to Enter The WUTANG 36 CHAMBERS. 1 out of 5 stars

Lost in the dream takes a mediocre soft rock approach which leaves me listening this record had more teeth than it does. It's banal and trite with little standing out

If only there was a 3.5. I enjoyed this and some point.

Im enjoying their sound. They remind me of another band ive heard but I cant think of who

Oh. My. God. I’ve heard about The War On Drugs, but never actually heard The War On Drugs before. I am so glad this came up on here. A fantastic album from start to finish.

It usually my thing, but really enjoyed that

Makes me wanna go on a road trip across the states.

The songs on this are really solid and have really good groove. I think this is a 3.5 for me only because of the ethereal keys in the back. It kind of overpowers the songs and makes them all sound similar. Still, bumping because it's so good it overcomes this.

I liked this chilled out ambient vibe.

I'd put this one at the better end of average. I didn't hate anything about it, but it didn't really move me at any point either. Good, but nothing more than that.

I think I am just going to call music in the last 10 years ... The Influence Era. I have said many times during this project, modern bands are just a copy of a copy of a copy. This band was obviously influenced by my sick days from school in the late 80s and early 90s watching VH1 because there was nothing else to do. Or maybe they were just really into Bruce ... Hornsby?

One of the definitive bands of my 30s. What else is there to say? It’s a 5!

Meh

Awesome album

Indie Springsteen disciples have a way of proliferating like Marvel Comics variants - over here a Craig Finn, over there a John Darnielle, here a Jason Isbell. there a Katie Crutchfield. Adam Granduciel's particular formula is *What If...Springsteen Discovered the Delay Pedal and Pot?* And it's fascinating the lack of anxiety of influence he displays; he knows he's aping the Boss and he knows you know it and he does it anyway. He gets away with it mostly by avoiding Bruce's vocal affectations in favor of a clearer vocal tone, and by keeping his lyrics suitably impressionistic rather than concrete like the original's. But the real star here is the guitar work - J Mascis and Kevin Shields by way of *Stardust*-era Willie Nelson, lush and full while simultaneously stately and unadorned. I tried to follow along with a lyric sheet but realized by about "Eyes to the Wind" that I was feeling rather than reading.

This band deserves an album on the list, but it’s not this one. Great songs in Under the Pressure and Red Eyes but overall I Don’t Live Here Anymore is a better album. I know this one’s fallen off the list in later versions.

I really enjoyed this album. I knew none of the songs, yet they were good listening. Some songs drew a clear line to their influences, which made them feel almost familiar.

Good songs mostly but mixed in with experimental atufd

Not bad, but sometimes I forgot who I was listening to, was this Dylan, or Springsteen? Both of which I don't care for. Just okay for me.

So glad to be introduced to this album, its growing on me by the hour

Actual cool vibe, not too shabby

Bruce Petty and the Dylans

If you like Arcade Fire then you’ll enjoy this album. But otherwise is was “just fine”.

Way too samey for a 60 minute set.

Calming and dreamlike. Wasn't in the right state of mind the first time listening to it, so would definitely be worth a re-listen. Fine, not great.

pas nadat plaat was uitgekomen, bleek dat alle bandleden eigenlijk in coma lagen...

6/10 Highlights: Red Eyes An Ocean In Between the Waves Eyes to the Wind

Very slow, but still good.

some cool indie rock

Meh.

Over the past 2 or 3 years this has been one of my go-to background albums.The mood is ambiguous enough it's really suiting for any occasion. I love the driving rhythm and reverb soaked layers of effect heavy guitars. Something about their sound is super nostalgic. I also think these guys have found a niche of music that not alot of new bands are still trying to make. Guitar driven rock and roll but with the hooks. It's like if most new bands were painting pop art or graffiti, just trying to grab the viewers attention, these guys are over in the corner painting a landscape.

I spent my morning snuggled in a reclining chair with my toddler watching the sun rising above a lake while listening to this album. So that’s going to factor pretty favourably into my review. The War on Drugs have been a long time favourite of mine. I’ve always thought they kind of sound like a mix of Springsteen and Dylan with Wilco as a backing band.

Hørt endel på før - veldig bra

Love this album and this has given me a reason to revisit it. First discovered it during covid and played it on repeat. An Ocean Between The Waves is outstanding but the whole album is gold. Tough one to rate as I only give 5 stars to faultless classic albums but this is better than a 4 star. It’s a 9/10 so gotta round up to 5.

OK'ish

I have never listened to this band or album before. It is ok I guess, nothing special but I enjoyed listening to it. I think that it will be something that I revisit in the future.

Tranquilo, agradable

Great for a rainy morning.

Atmospheric. Nice extended musical passages

Really enjoyed this one, very good instrumentals and a good vibe, would listen again

Not bad. Some of it has a bit of a Bob Dylan sound to the vocals.

It's ok

This was alright. Pleasant enough background music.

okej ale troche monotony przez sporo czesc czasu

Bardzo bezpieczny, przyjemny ale powtarzalny

Trochę nudny, ale miewa fajne instrumentalne części. Bardzo dobry jako tło. Zawiera część elementów muzyki Tame Impala, których szukałem u innych artystów.

Ethereal and vibey. Overall I found this pleasant but I don't think I'd go back to it.

Meh

Chill songs with good music. Suffering had a really good guitar interlude. Eyes To The Wind had some nice saxophone. The songs are too long, tighten them up a bit and this album could easily be a 4. Best song: Suffering

Bland and not interesting. I could probably get into it but would take work and forcing myself to do so. Lush production but songs dont quite land. Won't listen to this one again.

This album was so boring it made me shit myself

This was a very good album. Towards the 2nd half a lot of albums sounded alike but it was stilll a good listen

Alright, a little monotonous. Singing style reminds me of Bob Dylan

its alright, didnt really connect with me but it was good

Red Eyes is a great song, I appreciate this band for being what it is. This album is an easy listen but it didn't leave as large an impact as just seeing them do Red Eyes on KEXP

The Wallflowers meet Lord Huron. But not actually as good as either of those bands. It's fine, it sounds like indie rock of the 2010s, so exactly like I expected it to going in, but it does have some nice 90s alt vibes on a few songs. I think my younger sister would be into this. A little too long and samey at the end of the day.

Day 23 A strange one as I’ve listened to this album several times today, found it enjoyable enough and have noted the songs I liked the most but I literally can’t remember how any of them actually go as I write this. I’ll definitely be listening again though to see if anything sticks. 6/10 with possibility to go higher. Highlights Under the Pressure Red Eyes An Ocean in Between the Waves

Omg Kurt! I love his solo stuff but had never really listened to WoD. I loved it!

Very pleasant! Sometimes kind of meditative? I was surprised by the direction some of the longer songs went in - like in reverse started with calming instrumental then went into a more soft-rock vibe. Will possibly play again.

I really dig this album. It's a solid 5! It was the perfect music to listen to when working at a cafe on an overcast day. War on Drugs remind me a lot of Destroyer—fresh, super mellow, with a beat that pushes forth. Fav songs: - An Ocean In Between the Waves 🌊👌 - The Haunting Idle P.S. I like that the music label is called "Secretly Canadian"

This album still holds up for me. Great listen for a quiet, rainy Saturday. Yes, the inspirations are pretty obvious. Yeah, it's an album with kind of "one note". And I'll never understand why people criticize bands for that. One of two VMP pressings that I'm sorry I missed.

“An ocean between the waves “ and “burning” make this album

I was in early-ish on TWOD, seeing them open for Guided By Voices in Central Park circe 2012 so I was familiar with this one. These songs unfold before you, stretching out a wide open sonic path propelling the listener forward. The album is thematic, so everything fits together but does not get too same-y for me. Awash in synth and guitar tones and a strong emotional core, a simple distillation would be yearning 80s style rock with ambient and Dylan-esque influence but this does not put a finger on the mood created.

love it

Good Songs: Under The Pressure, Red Eyes, Suffering, An Ocean In Between The Waves, Eyes To The Wind, Burning, Lost In The Dream Mid Songs: Disappearing, In Reverse Bad Songs:

Just fine, not my fav, decent background music.

Feels kinda like a modern melding Dire Straights meets The Boss. Pretty good if you're in the mood for that kind of thing, but I wasn't so much. This could have another star if I were in more of an indie flavored dad rock mood.

A recent review called this "Bob Dylan covered by The Killers" as if that were a bad thing.

Interesting, but this seems like it's ultimately going to be just forgettable. Nothing I hated here, but also nothing that stood out and made me say, "I gotta listen to that song again!"

I like the elements of like dream pop stuff, with the drum machines and reverbs and delays and stuff. I also really like the long song structures, feels like they're not really rushing around anywhere, which is always nice, the long, drawn out instrumental parts towards the ends of a few of the songs feel really unique. It does feel very much heavily inspired by some things, but quite a diverse list, so it feels like quite a unique melting pot, I feel like his vocals are more alike Bruce Springsteen or even Arcade Fire at times, but there's like synths and stuff, so it feels different. And it also feels quite inspired by some classic rock, not the too blues or yelling side, which I think is good. Favourite songs: all. Overall around 8/10 (probably quite close to 9)

Really good

Incredible album. Must listen

I liked this

Movie soundtrack vibes here, not bad

it just ok. my life remains unchanged

I like this guy and their sound though I haven't listened to a full album. What I know going into this is that nearly all the songs they have on the radio sound very similar. Solid listen count across all the tracks, all around 10M to 30M. I knew "Red Eyes" and I like that song and it's rollicking groove (177M listens). "Under The Pressure" has a Bob Dylan staccato vocal and drones on for 3 minutes too long (like many of these songs), the ending is just pure annoyance. I enjoyed "Suffering" which I hadn't heard before, great guitar work. Back to my first observation, the songs tend to sound similar with a groove that's in his comfort zone wheelhouse, but a bit overused on an album this long. "Eyes To The Wind" is an ode to Tom Petty, just not as good. Same Bob Dylan thing in "Lost In The Dream" and the same wearing out it's welcome 8 min song length on "In Reverse". I don't mind him, but this was not a hit album, one hit song that gets on the radio, nothing revolutionary or cutting edge, and the length and similarity in songs is tedious over 60 minutes. 3 stars, but that's generous.

I need to be in a specific mood to really enjoy this, that said Red Eyes alone gives this a 3, the best non Christmas Christmas sounding song

Snuck a 4. Really like war on drugs and this was a decent, chilled listen

closer to a 2 but that seems unfair, may not have listened at the right time or in the right headspace. it's fine. its boring. it does exactly what it sets out to do well and its not my taste

5 stars. Modern classic. A sonic kaleidoscope of American heartland rock, folk, and even some shoegaze, with a nice 80’s-music patina. A perfect roadtrip album, and one that I come back to a lot.

He sounds like the lovechild of Don Henley & Bob Dylan who doesn't know how to properly end a song. Your soundscapes aren't interesting enough to end every song like that. The songs tend to be needlessly long. To me the drummer makes this incredibly better then it ought to be. Fun upbeat keeping the flow really saves alot of the songs.

It’s just good rock music If only we had latched on to this and not arctic monkey

songs were good just too long

Oh. This sounds like Bob Dylan if covered by the Killers. Disappointingly bland.

10/10 vibes

Låter väldigt mycket som Bruce ibland

Dire straits, Bob Dylan

Like an ambient Tom Petty, or a smoothened out Kurt Vile, but less interesting than both

This sounded familiar and nostalgic. I rather liked it

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: 33/1001 I didn't realize this album was so recent, and recency increases my expectations of an album in some ways. In some ways, it's easier than ever to write music, but it's also as hard as ever to stand out. I think The War On Drugs stood out with this album. It's a blend of indie rock and experimental psychedelic sound that creates a chill and easy listen. Podium: 1. Suffering 2. Red eyes 3. Under the pressure The synthesizer remains a top-tier instrument for enchanting music. Each song evolves its own way just as the album continues revealing itself to the listener with subtle changes and sharp turns that keep you engaged. The lyrics are self-reflective and meaningful, and together the music remains captivating even when it's stretched to its max. I'll be listening again. I give Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs 4/5 stars for these reasons.

Its somehow sounds happy and sad at the same time ¿ I like it all in all. I like the fluid transition from „The haunting idle“ to „burning“.

A genuinely wonderful album, with plenty to enjoy for those that like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, or those who enjoy ambient music

Amazing

Always been a fan of this one! Brilliant album, one of my favourites

expected to dislike and i actually enjoyed it. really a 3.5 for me but i guess i will round up for this one

Great album. Love it from the first song. - 4/5

Great discovery for me, I loved it!

Good vibes. Good band which I never heard before. Good listen.

Me childhood Lol

This one was a little slow and felt uninspired to my ears. I’m sure it falls into someone’s wheelhouse, but not mine and that’s okay.

These are my only notes: Singer sounds like Paul Simon Boring indie pop maudlin

An album with some great moments, but it does get bogged down by a few recurring issues. Many of the tracks on the record are around 6-8 minutes, and I feel that many of them aren’t musically interesting enough to warrant that length. I will say though, tracks 7-9 are amazing, but the rest is just okay. 3/5

имба.

I've never listened to this album (5). Some nice moments (Suffering, An Ocean in Between the Waves) but not really my style of music.

I will never understand all of the love this band and this particular album get. Have any of you ever heard Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, or Tom Petty? They shamelsssly steal from those three, yet somehow makes it all less interesting, more vanilla, and incredibly bland. Imagine a CD created to play in a Starbucks that will be familiar enough to get the white people tapping their toes but also inoffensive enough that no one objects. That is this album.

Very very long, but the music was good.

Nothing original, everything's "borrowed". The Dylan-esque way of singing, song structures from Springsteen, arrangements from (place your favorite Americana band here).

I couldn’t work out whether I really liked it or not so I listened to it again. And it’s nice enough but boring.

My perfect 2014 breakup album. I was scrolling tumblr in my minds eye. Pretty, ambient, and moody. I love the nostalgia.

I skipped listening to this album....because this is my third favourite album of all time. I've listened to it hundreds of times. I don't think I've ever been able to listen to any one song on this album without listening to the entire album. It's a fantastic album.

Ok

"I met War On Drugs tonight and they're pretty nice. But their hair's long and greasy, hope they don't have lice." Nice vibe but has always been a passive enjoyment when I have it on.

Would buy

pretty good stuff I think i could get into them

Banger album.

good

Not a fan

I really liked it a lot. I could listen to it all the time

Love it.

awesome

It all kind of blurred together for me

This sounded ok but it wasn't very interesting. Sounds like it was made to be a movie soundtrack or something

This has a lot of what I like, or at least what I liked ten years ago when this album was released. Some moody heartlock rock. But I find that the instrumentation (mainly the drums?) don't vary much across the tracks, meaning all the melody and, I don't know, musical ideas (?) are coming from the vocals only. I think that's what separates this greatly from my very special boys, The Killers, who have a sound but try lots of weird stuff, some of which doesn't work great, but at least makes each song stand apart. This review may annoy people who know anything at all about music but I'm pretty sure this is at least B- music criticism.

A mix of dylan and Springsteen and ryan adams and lots of other Americana and roots rockers. A lot of reverb going on here though. Was decent enough but I think it had more potential than it produced

Інструментал прикольний, вайбовий. Легко уявляю його на якійсь шкільній, або й не тільки, дискотеці. Але окрім цього нічого немає. Лише через те що потрапило в настрій і потребу - 3.

Easy background music. Not really getting the words. Album seems like it should be from the 60's or 70's. Mr Tambourine Man 3 is my favorite rating

Great indie psych album

I remember reading on the Wikipedia page that among the chief influences for this album were Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, among others. And listening through this album, and not even closely... Yeah, it sure sounds like all of those artists. Like, "Yeah, that sounds like it's comin' offa a spacier version of BORN TO RUN." Or, y'know, "Yeah, the singer sure sounds like Bob Dylan here." It got me wondering if this was one of those kinda bands that got all sorts of critical acclaim just because it reminded the old guard rock journalists of all the old stuff they like. I mean, I can certainly hear how much this material wouldn't really excite the "average listener" who doesn't go as gaga for Springsteen or Dylan like they do. You just gotta look at how long these songs are on average, or how similar to each other they can all feel. But frankly, though? I don't care about any criticism you can lob against this record. I had this thing on while I was building a LEGO set, and y'know what? This was the perfect sorta atmospheric music to go along with that sort of thing. I'm sure if I actually tried to pay closer attention to it, I'd be willing to earnestly spit a lot of the aforementioned criticism against it. But, hey, I am far from the kinda person who'll criticize music for being "wallpaper." You gotta realize, there's a lotta value in adding color to otherwise empty spaces. And in doing that, well, this album worked as dang well as it could have. I'm aware, this isn't the most high-praised endorsement of this album in the world. I'm basically giving it props for being good enough background music. On top of that, I'm completely ignoring this thing's actual lyrics, so how good of a review is this, really? And that's fair, but, I mean, music serves different needs for different people. I can only be honest about what I got out of an album, and, well... Sometimes, you want good wallpaper, and that's exactly what I got. I can't be too hard on it for providing for me like that, even if it wasn't the "correct" way. So maybe I got lost in the dream. And I'm sure the actual lyrics on the album wouldn't be in favor of that sort of thing, from what I skimmed from the Wikipedia page and a group member's review. But for what I was doing at the time, it was a darn fine one to get myself lost in. 43 years after Nixon first introduced it, I guess it was about time we got something good out of the war on drugs.

Good 2010's indie, but not much else to say. Solid 4 Stars.

I’m at a 5; maybe a little higher. This is a hard one to try and distill, because for the most part, I think you could get away with listening to this album with your eyes closed, just to catch the vibes & overall tone of it, and you’d still probably capture at least 70-80% of the essence of this thing. It’s an album where sound design tells most of the story, with the lyricism acting as texture to enhance and specify the mood, but not as something crucial, at least not until specific points in each of the songs. His Bob Dylan-y vocals add a bit as well, to portray some of the emotion, but you could just as easily blend it into the soundscape (and this album DOES do that a handful of times). The 20 to 30% of this album where the lyricism feels more crucial (but again, not overly so) adds a lot of texture to my brain that just hammers the track home. Take a track like “An Ocean in Between the Waves”; it’s about losing sight of someone because of being buried down under a pile of stress, and being unable to fully recognize them because of it. It’s a little hard to parse from just listening, but I do think the instrumental provides so much of the necessary information to get there, and the lyricism is what hammers it down. The same applies to a track like “Eyes to the Wind”, where the lyricism expresses a sense of social dejection & self-inflicted loneliness, but the instrumental still tells so much of the story. “Burning” is the point of the album where a sense of clarity is reached, and in many ways, it’s the climax point of the album, one where you could arguably just end it and have a satisfying 8-track narrative. The entire buildup, starting from “The Haunting Idle”, is REALLY well done, and once the tension releases itself, THAT’S the clarity point. Once again, the lyricism hammers home the track; it feels like being “released” from the clutches of this relationship has fully untethered him from some of his stress & tension. The clarity point hit for me as a listener too; while the framing of these songs have all made it seem like a relationship with a woman, it’s almost certainly been about his relationship with himself – his “release” here is an intentional choice to pick himself up and get past the demons in his life. The narrative is extremely obvious in retrospect, but it reframed so much of the album for me. The soundscape on this track, with the super triumphant tone, tells that story all the same, and they work hand-in-hand very nicely. I *love* the choice to not end on “Burning”, though. The last two tracks are more of an epilogue based in introspection, and they cap off the album in a way that feels like well-needed therapy past the storm, to try and truly seal those inner demons away for good. The clarity that comes after “Burning” gives the last two tracks a bit more lyrical clarity as well, but they’re still very driven by their soundscapes. “Lost in the Dream” is about self-love being a catalyst to open the windows to the soul, made specifically for the people who are most intimately in your life to see through. It’s done through the simple observance of a soldier lost in a daydream, and the curiosity of wanting to know his thoughts. It’s very lyrical, and it’s the most Bob Dylan-y song on the album, by far. However, there’s still something in the soundscape itself that aids the storytelling of the album. It’s that clarity popping up again. It’s just so much calmer. Even if you ignore the lyricism here, the difference from “Burning” to “Lost in the Dream” is still kinda striking from just an instrumental standpoint. “In Reverse” is very Eno-y to start, and once it really drops, it reveals itself as a good blend of “Burning” & “Lost in the Dream” from an instrumental standpoint. Lyrically, while it’s a little hard to parse, there’s a simple framing that makes the entire track make sense: he’s still talking to himself. It’s his “darker” depressed self giving a sort of goodbye to his “brighter” happier self, as the darkness fades away, at least for now. That “war” in the first line is just the first 8 tracks. The vestiges of that “darker” soundscape fading out to end the album tells the story all the same, and it puts a great bow on the entire thing. Of course, a lot of this is still interpretative, and I’ve sure made it sound like the lyrics give far more than they do, but I promise; this is an album where you can just listen and pick up on the overall mood swings, and that story from just the instrumentals & production alone is still extremely satisfying. To put it bluntly, I think you can get lost in the dream & still get most of this album. It’s a little artsy, perhaps, but it’s the type of artsy that’s right down my alley. I think it’s worth the acclaim, I think it’s worth being on the list, and I think it’s another example of the sort of stuff I missed out on in the 2010s. It’s a highly recommended album, and an easy 5 for me, if a little higher.

i love me some sad dad opium dream rock