Reviews (page 8 of 13)
A combination of Springsteen, Tom Petty. It’s okay.
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.
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.
Belas canções atmosféricas, mas foram poucas as que, de fato, me mobilizaram
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?
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.
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
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
A solid rock record that unfortunately never reached the height it promised
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.
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.
4 stars. I liked a few of the songs, but some were just too much.
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"
Same tone all the way through. Love under the pressure though
por momentos está muy bueno, pero es super repetitivo
Interesting
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.
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
Chill
Ehh
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
If only there was a 3.5. I enjoyed this and some point.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
6/10 Highlights: Red Eyes An Ocean In Between the Waves Eyes to the Wind
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
Not bad. Some of it has a bit of a Bob Dylan sound to the vocals.
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
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
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.
Just fine, not my fav, decent background music.
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 liked this
Movie soundtrack vibes here, not bad
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
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
songs were good just too long
Låter väldigt mycket som Bruce ibland
Dire straits, Bob Dylan
This sounded familiar and nostalgic. I rather liked it
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“.
Good vibes. Good band which I never heard before. Good listen.
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
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.
Very very long, but the music was good.
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.
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.
pretty good stuff I think i could get into them
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
Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs feels like an album from decades past yet still fresh and modern, blending nostalgic heartland rock with a dreamy, contemporary touch.
point9.
This is a band I've heard of but never listened to! I'd only heard of them recently through Sam Fender - so going off that I thought they'd be more rock? This was just coffee shop music to me though. Just blends into the background and nothing of substance. Wasn't bad just very bland. Tea with no milk or sugar 3 ⭐️
Easy to listen to
Ambient electronic rock Favorite track: red eyes other picks: under the pressure, an ocean between the waves, disappearing
They're smooth and talented but it's just not my vibe.
Definitely hear the Springsteen influence in the first two tracks. Overall it was fine, the songs were neither exceptionally good or exceptionally bad.
Genre: Heartland Rock The lead singer fancies himself a mixture between Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, two of the more boring rock icons of all time. The music turns out pretty okay, though. Not as jangly and overbearing as Bruce, not as prickly and indiscernible as Bob, with big early 00’s production. Some of these songs drag on unnecessarily, riding the same 3 chords to death. Not bad, though. Enjoyable. 3/5
nice - overly massive chords though
I think I liked this band more when it was called Dire Straits, but this was nice at any rate.
American Indie Rock. Very standard and kind of bland radio music.
Great songs to listen too on the road but need to be in the mood for it
Sometimes i think this is decent and sometimes utter 70s MOR garbage. One song in the mix would be great. All of it together makes me question things.....
it was okay! I liked how their description talks about the destruction of boundaries between genres.
i have been trying to go to The War on Drugs concert for most of my adult life and been thwarted. For that I give this a normal 3 stars.
Wasn’t
Mellow, but nearly a 4
Not a 2. Not a 4. Nothing absolutely stellar but it sounds nice enough. Vocals aren't my thing, doesn't sound like an album from the 2010s
Enjoyed but havent finished
I'd never heard of these guys. The music was mellow, soft and tolerable from a listening perspective. It wasn't bad, but nothing I would get excited about, or purchase. I would give it a 2.5 if I could grade in half point increments.....it's a "C" for me.
I listened to this album two times in a row, back to back. I was painting our outdoor bench on my patio and it provided a pleasant soundtrack for this task. Did I enjoy the music? Sure, as I tend to like Indie and folk music. Was there anything truly remarkable that stuck out to me on this album and made me say wow? Not really. It was nice background music and I can see myself listening to this album again in the background as I am studying or reading or cooking… But it will not be one that I will seek out all the Time if I'm looking for up-tempo or high energy stuff. It was mellow, it was pleasant enough to listen to, but as for being one of the 1001 albums, I must hear before I die, I was a bit underwhelmed.
I have been a pretty big WoD fan since their first record, back when Kurt Vile was still in the band. I've seen them live many times, from small clubs to festivals to opera houses. Generally, I thoroughly enjoy the overall vibe they put out, despite sounding like a perfect melting pot of 70s-80s heartland rock and/or the synth-ier side of Bruce Springsteen with very little innovation. But this record does seem to drag a bit. It certainly has highlights with plenty of groove, passioned vocals, blistering solos. But the lowlights are particularly bore-o snore-o to me and really upset the overall cadence and listening experience of the album. Even though I own the deluxe vinyl box set of Lost in the Dream, it's a 2.5/5 for me. 3/5
Elements of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and even Pink Floyd all over the record, but some songs are too long, bland and monotonous. Seems like they lost the war on drugs... Well executed record though. 5.5/10
This album made me feel two very different feelings. On one hand, the very melancholic nature of some of the songs hit me kind of deep. I don’t know how to describe it, but I felt a weird sense of nostalgia; a longing for some of the times I experienced a decade ago. I think it had to do with the reverb guitar. It was kind of beautiful to be honest. On the other hand, it was boring as shit. The album drones on for too long and some of this sounds like a depressed Tom Petty. All the emotional fluff gets shoved aside and then I beg for the song to end. This wasn’t bad, but it’s way too slow for my tastes. If every song was cut in half, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Favorite track: Suffering Other hits: Disappearing, Lost in the Dream, In Reverse, The Haunting Idle
Chill. Maybe a bit too chill. The vibe was nice but there wasn't much that stuck in my mind or impressed me about this one. Enjoyed a bit, though. Kinda reminiscent of Arcade Fire
My opinion hasn’t changed much since this came out. It’s very pretty and I do think has moments of greatness, but I can’t survive on just the vibes for the hour runtime.
Erg zweverig, wat normaal niet ijn ding is. Maar kreeg hier een zeer relaxte vibe van. Weet alleen niet of ik dit perse nog een keer zou luisteren.
One of the best, all vibes “Dudes Rock” album since Dire Straits?
I think I first came across The War on Drugs through Pandora (probably not the best thing to admit, I know), and I was drawn to something in their 80s-throwback/nostalgia sound, so I'm glad we got an album by them in this collection. I'll admit, though, that they're kind of a one-trick pony, in that I have yet to hear a song by them that doesn't sound largely like all of the others. Good for a music mix/playlist, not as much fun during an hour straight of their distinct take on life, music and somber reflections. But I'm glad to hear other tracks than their singles, and I enjoyed the videos for "Under the pressure" and "Red eyes" (more so the latter, with its talent show story, than the too-long former). I know the Wikipedia entry cites Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan as influences (or at least inspirations, both musically and lyrically), but I'll admit that every time I hear them, I think more of Don Henley, especially "Boys of summer", albeit in a much more minor/bleak key. Bummer that Adam Granduciel couldn't have found some way to mention seeing a Dead Head sticker on a Cadillac....
Pretty good, kind of atmospheric
This was a fun listen while doing some chores around the house
3.5
Felt like the drums were the exact same beat every time, just at different tempos, anyway decent album, nothing special in my opinion, it’s got a nice mellow feel and sound to it like you could easily just get lost in it to calm down or something but didn’t really have that affect on me it was just a bit boring. No standout songs aswell as they felt pretty similar. Overall, 5/10.
It was ok
While not quite to my tastes, I can't deny there's something here. Initially I dismissed this as a Bruce Springsteen-Tom Petty-Modern Indie rock mish-mash, what makes this endearing is Adam Granduciel's heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics and a bright mix between moody 70s guitars with 80s drum machines. Lost in the Dream is not a fun record, but feels like it would be great to listen to while driving to the beach or through the valley.
É bem okzinho
Gerði ekki mikið fyrir mig því miður. Var alltaf að pása plötuna og setja á eitthvað skemmtó.
Voða vandað, huggulegt og þægilegt, en get alls ekki hlustað á þetta til lengdar.
Wasn't bad, but it is very repetitive and lost me in the back half.
Never heard of the artist or any of the songs. This is a solid album with a few decent songs - nothing sticks out as bad or great. I'm not exactly sure why this was so critically praised. It seems like a an 80's cover band wrote their own average songs. This isn't a bad album, but not one that I will revisit. Best songs Under the Pressure Red Eyes Burning
Lost In The Dream.. more like Lost In The Sea of Same. While I enjoy most every song on this album, I don't think this is a great album. Mostly I feel that the material offered at hand is lumped in with every other synth-coated, jangly-guitar indie rock band that's come out in the 2010's. I genuinely couldn't tell them apart if you made me. Every song is atmospheric synth-rock with like 2 verses, and then 5 minutes of meandering guitars and keyboards; and this goes for an hour straight. Now, maybe certain songs will end up on a playlist of mine, or I might revisit a track or two from time to time, I don't think I'll be listening through the whole album again. Overall, I don't feel like this is an album one should sleep on, the songwriting is top-notch and the production is fantastic; but I don't vibe with the style The War On Drugs is giving enough to listen to another album from them. If you enjoy indie from that era, you'd probably love it, I just can't get it.
Reading their Spotify description, I was really excited to listen to this album. Thought maybe something like Black Country New Road came to mind. However, come to find the description itself was just pretentious. I get hints of Springsteen, Dire Straits, Wilco, The Killers, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, etc. more or less just a classic singer song writer style of the 80s with the early 2000s Indie style. However, these guys bring nothing new to the table. Everything by the artists listed before them is better. Nothing is innovative. The drums all sound the same on every track.
80's vibes. Vocal like Bob Dylan.
Regular
Never heard of this group, but you can definitely hear the 80's rock influence right off the bat. Very Springsteen-like in performance and sort of Dylan-like in the vocals. Plenty of ambience here too, long intros and outros if you're into that sort of thing. That being said, the sound ended up being a bit bland and similar all throughout. I could see how this would strike a chord with some, though, given the vulnerability in the lyrical themes.
7.5/10
Not overwhelmingly amazing or ground breaking but a good album. Love the ambient rock stuff.
7/10
This should be right up my alley, and it's nice but doesn't really hit. I'd go and see them at a festival, and may very well stay for the whole set, but equally likely to go and get a drink after 20 minutes and see who else was playing.
Nine minute opener is it aye. We'll fucking see. Hmmm slightly generic 10s indie so far. There's something going on with the sound that steps it up tho. Distortion and shit. Yeah not really my era of indie but I can still tell this is decent enough i can see why you'd be into this. May or may not revisit
Starts strong but really loses steam and gets so dull. Very forgettable music to me, I just feel like I listened to something that left me with so little after.
Like it 3/5
Good album. Nothing hugely stuck out to me, but enjoyed.
there's parts of this album I really enjoyed and other parts where the music just went on too long. they clearly are inspired by rock with hints of 90's nirvana motifs. I quite enjoyed suffering and disappearing
Begint goed met een 909 hihat (Under Pressure), en dan vanaf 30 seconden drukt een valse piano de pret. Can't unhear. Vind de stem met die Bob-Dylan-achtige wankeling niet fijn om naar te luisteren. Wel catchy melodieën, lange nummers, en goede productie dus toch 3 sterren.
First time met dit album/deze band. Volgens mij kon dit prima in 40 minuten. Meestal ga ik juist goed op het wat uitgestrektere spul maar ‘t kan hier wel echt kabbelen. De vocals zijn er wel maar meer als sfeer en nodigen daarmee niet om actief te luisteren. Af en toe wel geinige mixkeuzes als een loeiharde (maar softe) gitaar op Suffering, die vervolgens een beetje aan ‘t noodlen slaat. Of de delays op de drums van Dissapearing en de bitcrushed snare die sporadisch langs komt, nice. De drums op Under The Pressure die op 5:25 voor de laatste paar maten nog even op alleen links geklapt worden, cool effect als het niet een heel nummer/album lang is à la early beatles stereo. Anders dan dat zijn er weinig dingen die eruit springen. Deze tracks leunen op slechts 2 akkoorden (en bij Suffering de juiste 2 (( I, IV)) heerlijk). Zo ook op Dissapearing (en grote delen van Under the Pressure) maar dan (IV, V) net wat minder heerlijk. Op An Ocean In Between The Waves is het minuten lang (VI, V) waar ik dan weer helemaal slecht op ga. Dan zijn 7 minuten erg lang. Excuseer de muzieknerderij. Doet soms denken aan tracks van Jesus and the Mary Chain maar dan heel soft. Of hoor ik een Springsteen/ Tom Petty achtig anthem (Burning) maar dan heel soft? Soms 80s wave als inspiratie. Al met al denk ik dat dit erg lekker weg luistert in de zon. Het is heel veel major key (yay!), strummy gitaren, softe synths en soms ritmisch stuwend. Het snoozegevaar ligt wel voortdurend op de loer maar mocht je in slaap vallen en 5 minuten later wakker worden heb je én niks gemist, én een dikke kans dat je nog steeds naar hetzelfde nummer aan het luisteren bent. Beste: Lost In The Dream / Suffering / Burning / Red Eyes Minste: An Ocean In Between The Waves / The Haunting Idle Albumhoes: Ondanks ik dit nooit geluisterd heb, zit deze hoes wel in m’n hoofd sinds release in 2014, samen met dat Warpaint album wat volgens mij rond dezelfde tijd uitkwam en een soortgelijke groengele wazigeheid was. Blijkbaar trekt me dat dus wel maar hij doet me een beetje sad aan en dat voel ik niet bij deze plaat. Misschien moet ik ‘em nog eens luisteren en meelezen 3/5
De dreamy, psychedlische indie rock van de war on drugs is direct herkenbaar en dit is het album waar dat geluid is vastgelegd. Niet alles kan helaas de aandacht vasthouden, maar de a-side is naar mijn mening sterk.
I hadn't listened to The War On Drugs before, this is a cool mellow album with a psychedelic feel to it.
Sonically beautiful, but not making any connection otherwise. I could have this as background music all day or when relaxing and I still wouldn't be able to name or sing a song.
Good album
Very good Good melodies, easy to hum along to having never heard it before. Enjoyable High 3
Te veel van het zelfde, melancholisch wel
it’s like if role model and timothee chalamet as bob dylan had a baby and that baby was a sad millennial. that said, it was chill but entirely forgettable
Calmer background music. I like the use of synths Edit Apr 15 2026: 4 --> 3
really enjoyable, but it didn't stick out to me overall. red eyes and in reverse tho ♡
Just didn't catch me much, listenable though. Would give a 3.5 if I could.
This was an ok album. I found it relaxing but could get a little repetitive at times.
Half a decent pop album, the other half kind of boring folk rock.
7/10. Pretty decent Heartland rock.
Starts strong.
1/2 80s pop album, 1/2 bad Bob Dylan impression. I didn't mind the 80s parts.
my nostalgia goggles have led me to believe that this album is way better than it actually is. it’s cohesive to a fault AKA most tracks sound the same. that being said, they could never make me hate you red eyes!!
A newer one from this century… very happy to hear - good vibes on this but not very memorable.
This was good! Did it need to be an hour? No, but its really good.
Pretty chill
- Feel like I should enjoy this more, but it's Americana inspirations inspire me to seek out those roots rather than listen to this album more. - "Red Eyes" is the only track with longevity, but it blends in with everything else once the whole album is played. I instead found myself gravitating to "Eyes To The Wind." - The Killers would go on a similar Americana bender a few years later. This is more atmospheric than that, but I am not sure that is doing it any favors.
Strong album
spokojny album ale na czasie
Mellow, good lyrics and well crafted but ultimately one dimensional. Reminds me of Don Henley’s 80s work, Bryan Adams, and in its best moments a glimmer of Dire Straits and Bob Dylan. 3⭐️
Buen grupo, un poco monótonos.
Probably first on the list that I don’t see a need to go back to. Most songs settle into a groove and don’t change much. Do like some of the 80’s inspiration.
It's a really nice album to listen to, and there will probably be times and moods where I'll come back to it, but it's so one-dimensional, making it meander along at one pace. For an hour long album, this can become quite tedious
Si on aime le rock progressif avec de la reverb partout. Under The Pressure est pas mal, le reste sans plus à mon gout.
First track is a masterclass on balancing a track. Lots of competing melodic instruments, but it never gets muddled. It's overall a nice sound; at its best it's a stripped down LCD Soundsystem. Definitely a vibe. But didn't hook me. Just not sure what it was trying to say. Glad I listened, probably won't revisit.
Solid, chill guitar solos. Almost my vibe.
I found the first half more captivating. I found the melancholy (hate using that word as I feel it’s overused) tone to be never boring and meandering to cool places. But it admittedly feels a bit samey by the second half (of maybe it’s because the whole album felt that way and I got bored). Under the pressure, red eyes, and suffering were my fav tracks
I mostly enjoyed the album, but at the end of the day, some of the songs sounded like he was doing his best Bob Dylan impression, which I didn't care for. Where they lack Dylan's poetic flourish, they make up for it with much better instrumentation. The album felt pretty front loaded, as the latter half of the album had several long instrumental sections (e.g.,"The Haunting Idle" and the first two minutes of "In Reverse") that could only be described as ambient music. Favorite track: An Ocean in Between the Waves
Emo Bruce Springsteen. A few legit good songs but way too much empty bits. They probably have an excellent album in them. This wasn't it
Like the vibe and the voice of the leading singer 3/5
Liked the atmosphere
Overall, this was a pretty nice album having in the background, nothing too exciting but it was definitely better that some of the things that we've had on here, because it is chill and it's not a burden when it's playing on the side while you're doing something.
Well produced, it starts strong, then it starts sounding a bit too repetitive. I listened to it a couple of times, there's something in it. It is a good record, some rythm variety here and there. I can listen some Bob Dylan influences, even sounds a bit 80's at some point.
A good album, but suffers from some unnecessarily long tracks
Toch een beetje saai, lijkt elke keer meer te beloven dan dat ik krijg van het album. Maar als het goed is is het echt heel goed.
It was slightly mediocre but nice lush sounds
On dirait les musiques dans les films un peu nul ou quelqu'un déménage et regarde en arrière sa ville natale, un peu cliché mais ca va.
Red Eyes is a banger but the rest were new to me. They're quite pleasant, I'll probably add them to the rotation.
Solid album. Feels like a less avant garde version of Radiohead.
It is okay
Some of these tracks give me a Pink Floyd vibe, others something like a MGMT vibe. It's not unpleasant, and kind of a cool consistent vibe all the way through. Some psychedelia. 3.4/5
This was good. There were a couple times where I thought this was Bruce Springsteen or Paul Simon based on the way the singer was singing. It had a good vibe and I will probably go out and get the album.
The never ending alt rock album. This was fine.
Pretty chill background music album
na momente bro tinks hi bob dilan, na trenutke heri stajls ez it vaz šalu na stranu, sasvim solidno
Cool ambient vibe
Sooooo vibey. Some songs are kinda boring and the singing leaves a lot to be desired but the atmosphere and instrumentals are undeniable.
Enjoyed listening whilst on a run, but scoring lower cos it’s Manc Wanderers favourite band. You can hear how much this band has influenced the sound of Sam Fender
Kunne gitt 4 for første halvdelen. God klang. Bra både de rolige og de med litt mer fart, nesten pausemenymusikk fra gammel fifa. Siste halvdelen ble litt tam, og trekker ned.
Red Eyes is brilliant but the rest is average.
"Shoegaze Springsteen" is a delightful sonic palette. but as a full record? a bit too monochrome.
Really liked most of this one, though there were a few times it strayed towards a Rod Stewart kind of vibe.
I enjoyed this more than expected. It ended up putting me on a really contemplative mood. I don't know how often I'll revisit it, but I'm glad I listened to it.
I've loved Red Eyes since it came out in 2014. I also just enjoy TWOD in general. I think I've listened to this album a handful of times but not in many years. Listening to it in its entirety now is interesting. It's a pretty good album but it's also kind of boring mostly because a lot of the songs sound the same. It's certainly not a bad album but the sum of its parts are not greater than the whole. This wouldn't be an album I'd ever buy the physical copy of and it will mostly just be a couple of songs that get thrown onto a big random playlist I never listen to.
Fair background music, but nothing to really grab the interest of this listener.
Нормальный альбом, но мало песен попали в настроение
Dry, low energy, never really comes alive. Gets an extra star just for red eyes tho
Kändes väldigt i sin samtid.
Decent, soft rock
Low-key rock
Listens: 2 Stand out tracks: The Haunting Idle 80s vibes. A few tracks has vocals that sounded like Bob Dylan. I enjoyed the transition from The Haunting Idle to Burning. Atmospheric, moody qualities.
Springsteen and Dylan should collect royalties for this. It’s fine. Some songs should end a minute or two sooner. It forces some synths in between in an attempt to make it mysterious, when there’s really nothing to be mysterious about. Some songs are comforting that feel familiar to what embodies the late 70’s/early 80’s .
3.5 Stars.
would be a lot better if it was 25% shorter, solid but not much stood out to me, and the things that did got stretched too thin.
gar nicht mal sooo schlecht, kannte ich bisher überhaupt nicht
Interesting. But I don't get all the rave.
I’ve had a hard time getting into these guys. I like some of it but not all of it.
Somewhere between Sting and Tom Petty. Catchy.
3.5 Stars
Wish I liked this as much as I wanted to but under the pressure will always be a favourite
Pheasant background noise, if a little whiny.
My favorite song off the album was "Red Eyes" because it sounded very coming of age. This was a very pleasant listen.
Nice sound - I only knew one song from them before
Lindos temas, lindas voces, letras un poco más interesantes de lo común. Nada muy guau, no sabría que destacar. Nota: 2.8
This answers the question nobody was asking - what if Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen had a kid, and Bob taught the kid to sing and Springsteen taught the kid how to compose music. But really, it feels like there's a line between influence and imitation. I refuse to believe that that is Adam Granduciel's voice, in the same way I refuse to believe that Josh Kizska had never heard Led Zeppelin until he hit high school. I mean it's possibly true, but come on. All that being said, this is a cool meeting of heartland rock sounds, folk, and modern production quality. It was a little hard, at times, to move past the obvious influence/imitation of Bob Dylan, but after a while it was just part of the sound as a whole. Off the bat I thought this could be a five-star venture. As it went on, I started to feel like there wasn't enough variation in the tracks. The more up-tempo tracks all sounded very similar to each other, and the slower ones were boring enough that I couldn't differentiate those much either. In all, it just kind of became two big sounds and I wasn't totally blown away by either. It could've been great, it was just good. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Under the Pressure, Red Eyes, An Ocean in Between the Waves, In Reverse
The War on Drugs makes the best soundscapes, the whole ensemble when it clicks is just so good. Also true live. And under the pressure is a banger. But when they slow down or just meander, soundscapes aren't enough. But thoroughly enjoyable album with some standouts (first two songs especially)
I didn't find it earth shattering but it was a nice discovery. I listened to it through an airport and some metro rides around Milan and it grew on me. High 3, or low 4?
I liked the second half better. This one had to grow on me.
No está mal, sonido alternativo.
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 😓🪟🛏️ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🌃🌊🔮 Rating: 🩹🩹🩹(🩹)/5
One of my best friends is a War On Drugs diehard, and I wish I were able to access the same level of passion for this music. It's very polished, but I think I wish it extracted the interesting parts of Bruce Springsteen's music (like, say, The Hold Steady) instead of what it settles on. Which is not to say that I don't like this album, because I certainly do, particularly the great one-two punch that starts it off. But it's hard to be too enthusiastic about it.
I can tell there is excellent production, musicianship and heartfelt lyrics on this album. But it would take a real investment to get into it. I listened, admittedly while working, but it just faded into the background for me. I can have a hard time with these indie opuses - if it doesn’t capture me right away, I don’t really feel motivated to immerse myself long enough in its world to care.
Meh, not really for me. I found it to be boring at times.
They defined a signature sound and stuck with it. Fine, because it's a very pleasant sound, but it doesn't keep entertaining me. It escapes me why many people hear Dylan and Springsteen in this.
Still dig it and the drum grooves
I wish there was a way to attribute authors on here but this is from a reviewer post on December 20, 2021 and it sums up my thoughts very well. I didn't hate it, but was hoping for more. "I was excited after reading their extremely pretentious description on Spotify but the result is underwhelming. I was really hoping for some genre bending/blending, instead it's just a dylan/orbison/petty not-quite coverband that delves into sound scapes ala Wilco meets Brian Eno."
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.
Really vibed with the instrumentals on this album, but the lead singer's voice kind of got annoying after awhile. A bit too whiney and talk-like for my taste. I also thought some of the songs went on for too long. But the music produced wonderful psychedelic hints at times and some upbeat feelgood tones at other times that I really enjoyed.
Halfway through I realize this album wasn't released in the 80s. Really put a damper on my enthusiasm. I wanted to hate the whole album but I couldn't. Red Eyes is a banger. I bought the long pretty good to a couple others. And general I didn't mind the excessive length of the songs. It's somehow fit the style. In general though I didn't like the vocals, they sounded like Bob Dylan crossed with Paul Simon and drowned in reverb. Also kind of pissed that they had a whole song of just ephemeral ambience.
Another high note listening experience courtesy of the 1001 album list :) This one has been on my radar to immerse myself in for quite sometime but somehow fell through the cracks, so I was delighted when it came through the generator today as my album to review. I was already familiar with the two opening tracks as well as the reputation this release has for sounding very Dylan-Springsteen-Americana-esque, which it very much dose, however not to the degree that it compromises from its own distinct identity. This is a very cohesive album, each song flowing nicely into the next, contemplative in feel that is pleasantly airy and dreamlike. I put this on while I was driving along rural backgrounds and the scenery complimented these tracks beautifully. 🎧 Classic Track- Under The Pressure 🎧 Hidden Gem- Suffering 🚫 Skip Track- In Reverse The slow burn instrumentals are exquisite albeit extends the runtime of the album overall a tad too long, coming in just over an hour averaging 6 minutes per track. A wonderfully produced indie rock gem that I look forward to revisiting! 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌- nothing special Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
Nice enough
Pretty cool
not bad not special
It’s ok. A few really solid songs and a bunch of meh ones.
I never heard of these guys before. Was good for my background music—overall, it’s too hazy and “on the highway at dusk” for me to reach for often.
It'd been a while since I last listened to Lost In The Dream and glad that it still holds up as a lovely, vibey record. Great for just putting on in the background and letting the music wash over you, but not noticeable enough to ever surprise. I do understand why some people really love this, but I do wonder if it's quite distinct enough to really earn its spot here
Bit of a let down. I really like that 2010s synth Americana sound and this teased it a lot but never really did it, and ultimately it was very one dimensional and vibey
I liked this. It's in no way special, but I enjoyed listening to it, and might listen again.
Not bad
Perfectly fine. Has forever been uninspiring to me. Would much rather listen to a Kurt Vile record.
Good
Fine. Not offensive but a little too chill and just didn't do it for me.
Enjoyed it.
Das war echt überraschend gut Oh 😮 Gut entspannt und abgehend zugleich
Good stuff
I actually vaguely know this album. I had heard a few of their songs before but my buddy scored free tickets to see them right around the time this album came out. He told me, "You have to listen to this 'Under the Pressure' song." So, I did and being a fan of jam bands, I wasn't put off by the runtime. The thing is: it IS a good song but the "jam" is just kind of boring. It doesn't do much. But I still like it. Well, the rest of the album feels the same way. It's enjoyable but just a little uninteresting. I'd definitely listen to it again but it's best as background noise.
OK, a bit depressive and too neil young vocals but the melodies were pretty good and catchy overall
Heartland rock is really cool idk why its been so long for me to listen to this. But really homey and warm album.
This was ok.
I like it's good. Would happily listen to it anytime, although probably wouldn't seek it out myself. Rating: 3
Great album to have in the background while working/thinking/writing.
This is the most three-star album I've heard on this list. Very moody and had good atmosphere.
Alright
Good album, bit slow
3+ Stars (9/15)
Wasn't familiar with, The War On Drugs" and my pre-conceived idea of their sound was different than I thought. It was quieter and more thought provoking than I expected and overall I liked their sound and songs. A bit of a Wilco-vibe and even an Americana feel, so it was comfortable and easy to listen to. I thought though, the songs became a little "samey" as it wore on and it did drag and became less interesting towards the end. Good, but not great (or essential), but worth the time and worth a future dive into their album catalogue.
Day 36: Lost in the Dream - The War on Drugs. War on Drugs album 1/1. I can hear a potential influence coming from 1970's rock music. However, it does not feel as authentic or nostalgic. It's somewhat difficult to remember what happened in the album at all after listening to it. Bruce Springsteen is a significantly more interesting artist form the Heartland rock scene. The music seemed to fade into the background. It's a lot better than some of the mainstream pop music that came out around the same time, but this album still isn't too impressive. I find the selection of new albums in "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" to be quite arbitrary. There are so many more important albums that came out more recently. Unless I am mistaken, this album only survived in the 2016 edition of "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". While a lot of great albums suffered the fate of removal from the list purely for being newer albums, I do believe that it was an appropriate action to take for this album. Personal Enjoyment: 3/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 2/5.
Amazing album, inspired thoroughly by Bob Dillon but with the energy of the killers.
-this wasn’t too bad. maybe a bit indie contemporary for my taste, and damnnnn some of those songs could’ve been cut down -some of them were absolutely beautiful and captivating though. i LOVE the lead singer’s voice and the 80s / 90s rock influence -Favorites are Suffering and An Ocean In Between The Waves
I liked this... Easy listening and inoffensive, however, it didn't excite me and is very "background friendly"
I like the style of music and lyrics and could easily listen to 2 or 3 songs in one go, but listening to the whole album in one session was a bit too much
Nice, not really special
This is good, but I like there other stuff more.
a little bob dylan, a little bruce springsteen, honestly not good enough to be either, but hard to fuck up when you’re primarily drawing from two influences like that
It was pretty music but it just didn't really captivate me like I would have liked. Ethereal sounding with a touch of new wave, synth-pop. Light melodies. It was a fine album but didn't really invoke enough emotion from me.
Both this album, and the individual songs on this album, are too long. If something was going to happen in these songs, it would have happened within 3 minutes or so, but nothing ever does. These songs are the equivalent of sitting in a dentist’s waiting room. And when someone lets out a weird high-pitched “WHOow!!” in a dentist’s waiting room, it doesn’t make me think that the dentist’s waiting room is exciting, it just makes me think the guy yelling is nuts.
Not bad, maybe a little tedious. "We have Bob Dylan at home" set to the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Good stuff. A little repetative and boring, but I appreciate the heady Greatful Dead/Folk Rock. If this is something you're interested, I implore you to consider the various other 2010's folk rock revival bands. Shakey Graves, Houndmouth, Lumineers, Mt. Joy, and Dawes. Kudos tho the War on Drugs was featured on a Greatful Dead tribute album in 2016 called "Day of the Dead" they did a brilliant cover of Touch of Grey.
I have never heard of this band, but i liked the album. Seems to be my style of music
for some reason i accidentally gave this a 5 star rating despite never hearing this a day in my life so i'm listening and editing my rating Under The Pressure - 4/5 Red Eyes - 4/5 Suffering - 3/5 An Ocean In Between The Waves - 4/5 Disappearing - 3/5 Eyes To The Wind - 4/5 The Haunting Idle - 1/5 (zzzzz) Burning - 4/5 Lost In The Dream - 4/5 In Reverse - 4/5 Average score: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hij was eigenlijk wel beter, maar gewoon een beetje saai.
It’s like Bryan Adams with a pedalboard
Als Hintergrundmusik war es in Ordnung. Das Album scheint ja eher heavy zu sein, da müsste man nun mehr auf die Lyrics achten um es besser bewerten zu können ggf. So, aber 3 Sterne für mich.
Okayish
Quite enjoyable but I'm not convinced it's essential listening.
Not my taste
The War On Drugs sounds like everyone other than an original band. Coldplay, Springsteen, OK Go, some 80’s yacht rock. It’s a solid album, great musicianship, vocals are decent, songs are bland. Maybe they should have tried drugs? I dunno.
I like it. Good background music to listen to while working or just chilling.
A few individual songs I ADORE, but overall it didn't capture me. I'll probably come back to it though, and may like it more.
Groovy. Enjoyed this one more than I imagined I would.
This was fine. At times it felt between a cross between Bryan Adams and Bob Dylan.
Soft mild vibes, a good part was just instrumental, occasionally there were some mumbly vocals. Good background music, suitable for post-credit nothingness. 3.5 rounded down for length. Stand-out: Suffering
Poor man’s Bruce Springsteen. This band is close to being great, but something is missing. I can’t put my finger on it, but maybe it’s because I could play drums for this band - so basic. The songs just don’t go anywhere. I want to go on a ride and they don’t do it for me.
it was okay. the album all kind of sounded the same. 3 stars
A few really good tracks, but most of it is boring and one dimensional. 3.5 stars
Cool.
Started off strong, and I enjoy the Springsteen vibes, but every song is too long, and there's too much ambient noise filler.
Read their pretentious Spotify profile and try to give this more than a 3
First album after an almost 2 week hiatus has found me unfocused and unserious. I can’t fairly judge this album as I barely functioned as my weekday self/in my weekday routine today. The vibes were cool, I think I’ll circle back at some point because I enjoyed it more than not, but I think it’s a combo of my brain being at 60% and this album being super chill that it blurred together for me. It’s a nice sound, and I think if I had had coffee before the album I could’ve told you which songs or lyrics I liked, but as it is, and within the constraints of the info I retained from listening, it *feels* cool. I liked what I heard and aside from the double sided coin that is a constant and chill vibe, I have no complaints.
It was an enjoyable indie rock album! His voice kind of gave me bob dylan vibes. Nothing super spectacular to make me come back probably.
I actually liked it. Mood music with a few fun melodies. Very dreamlike, per the title.
When your friends ask you to play some background music for the hangout so you put on Lost In The Dream because you’re a chill guy.
I've actually heard of this band prior to starting the list. I was studying at the library in college when I first heard "Red Eyes". I was listening to a random local radio station based out of Portland Oregon on the iHeartRadio website when it came on. I liked it at the time, but never really followed up with the band. They're sound is right up my alley especially at the time. Perfect music to listen to while studying. I'm glad I did a full album, and I'll keep them in the rotation. The War On Drugs has the most mid 2010's sound, and I discovered them in the most mid 2010's way.
I had heard a few from the album before. I found myself really enjoying the album- their sound is mellow and understated but still captivating. I found that sometimes the songs seemed to meld into each other. Still- I found myself enjoying a lot of the songs. Overall- probably 3.5/5, but not quite a 4
This album sounds like when you're at an outdoor stadium concert and it's the opening song and the band really stretches out the intro and there's an anxious lull as you're waiting for the first verse to properly start... that feeling, but extended for 60 minutes. The instrumentation doesn't deliver the spontaneity you'd expect from a jazz band or jam band - The War On Drugs is heartland rock not dissimilar from The Killers albeit with inexplicably greater hype - so the overall sensation is basically akin to edging.
I just wish the vocals were a little louder on some of the tracks.
I really wanted to like this more. The final track shows the potential.