Hell yeah, this is the highest score they’ve given a new studio album since DAMN. (also 9.2) Big Thief: U.F.O.F. Album Review | Pitchfork
Honestly they deserve a score that high! Not sure I agree with it being the highest they've given in years (it doesn't have the same political weight and Importance as something else around that range like Low's Double Negative), but it's still stellar and I'm fully on board with this band after hearing the record. And anyway, there is some relevance To Now with the songs about queer desire - at least that's how I keep interpreting some of these songs - and anxiety about the future.
Finally listened to this tonight after spending most of the weekend on VW and it's really really good. Didn't listen to any of the singles pre-release so "Cattails" really blew me away, probably my favorite on first listen along with "Jenni." Album reminds me of so many things (Red House Painters, Bonnie Prince Billy, Emmylou's Wrecking Ball ) but then it simultaneously sounds like nothing I've heard before. I dunno. It's great, regardless.
every time i listen to this album i get to this one song and i’m like “oh this one is really hitting me this time” and i can never remember which song it is and every time i look down and it’s “open desert” i guess what i’m saying is, more love for “open desert”
I think the way Lenker writes about the environment is really important politically now, and the review dwells on this a lot with the "deep ecology" and Rachel Carson discussions.
Songwriting on this is unreal, but the production is no slouch either. The guitars sound beautiful and alive. Anytime there are electric guitars I find myself in awe of their beautiful tone. Can’t wait to dive into the lyrics more, which is something I havnt been able to do as much, mostly bc most of my listens have been while driving!
I can't put into words why, but I get the same immediate feelings to this as I got from Goodness. Is earthy a good way to describe an album? I want to lay on grass and listen to this on repeat.
I had that exact same sentiment typed out in my post late last night but then deleted it because I couldn't really explain why it reminded me of Goodness and felt dumb. I think part of it might be the springtime release (at least for me) but I get the same feeling
Hey so this is the best album of the year and it’s not even closeeeeee. Can’t believe it hasn’t even been three years since I saw these guys in a sandwich shop and now they’re headlining 2,000 caps.
This and Laura Stevenson are at the top of my list rn. As much as that album is like emotionally honest and vulnerable, this album is just mysterious and soothing. Both very different types of like healing through music.
Im actually under contract to listen to anything that is compared to Goodness on this site, so I guess I'll be checking this out.
Yea big time Radiohead vibes. Probably my two new favorite records of the year (This and VW) dropping on the same day. I get a feeling there will be comments in twenty years how these albums dropped the same day. They’re both instant classics imo.