I’ve tried and tried, but I just don’t think a review is going to come out of this. That’s fine. After all, I don’t want to force something that isn’t meant to be. So I’ve decided to go all Michael Rauch with these non-country (or Americana…) reviews and keep it short and simple. I do want to try and cover at least *some* non-country music here and there, but I also don’t want it getting in the way of what I love doing – you know, reviewing country music. Basically what that means is that whenever I talk about something non-country here, it means that I really like it. I won’t waste my time with stuff I don’t like because that time and energy could go towards writing something I like better, especially in the country universe. So that’s that.
Anyway, the War On Drugs’ new project, A Deeper Understanding sounds like a continuation of their previous project, Lost In The Dream. Is that a bad thing? If you’re a pretentious critic, sure. Okay wait…scratch that. I actually really do like this! I throw around descriptive adjectives such as “spacious” and “atmospheric” all the time when describing music here, but I’ve never really explained what I mean when I say them. I’m usually referring to the mood that the tracks give off. Here, the “atmospheric” tracks usually put you in a deep meditative state, and that”s evidenced in the themes on this record.
My favorite songs on here are probably “Pain” and “Holding On”, especially the latter for incorporating that spacious (there I go again!) guitar solo that makes me feel like I can kick some ass (life’s ass that is – I’m not a violent person). Plus it also feels like the love child of “Red Eyes” and “Under The Pressure” off of their last album. “Pain” is one of those philosophical ramblings about finding out how you are in this crazy world, and of course I love that.
I’m not wild about a few tracks, but the one I’d say is the weakest is “All Night Long” for being sort of a ho-hum opener. For me though, I’d give this a light to decent 8. It’s atmospheric, it’s a fantastic followup, it’s friggin’ rock.
Oh yeah, and “Thinking Of A Place” has a steel guitar in it, so it’s more country than Sam Hunt…or really 80% of country radio right now. That’s it. I’m done. The end. Check out the video below while I shut up.
Listen: "Pain"
Listen: "Holding On"
Author: Zackary Kephart
Anyway, the War On Drugs’ new project, A Deeper Understanding sounds like a continuation of their previous project, Lost In The Dream. Is that a bad thing? If you’re a pretentious critic, sure. Okay wait…scratch that. I actually really do like this! I throw around descriptive adjectives such as “spacious” and “atmospheric” all the time when describing music here, but I’ve never really explained what I mean when I say them. I’m usually referring to the mood that the tracks give off. Here, the “atmospheric” tracks usually put you in a deep meditative state, and that”s evidenced in the themes on this record.
My favorite songs on here are probably “Pain” and “Holding On”, especially the latter for incorporating that spacious (there I go again!) guitar solo that makes me feel like I can kick some ass (life’s ass that is – I’m not a violent person). Plus it also feels like the love child of “Red Eyes” and “Under The Pressure” off of their last album. “Pain” is one of those philosophical ramblings about finding out how you are in this crazy world, and of course I love that.
I’m not wild about a few tracks, but the one I’d say is the weakest is “All Night Long” for being sort of a ho-hum opener. For me though, I’d give this a light to decent 8. It’s atmospheric, it’s a fantastic followup, it’s friggin’ rock.
Oh yeah, and “Thinking Of A Place” has a steel guitar in it, so it’s more country than Sam Hunt…or really 80% of country radio right now. That’s it. I’m done. The end. Check out the video below while I shut up.
Listen: "Pain"
Listen: "Holding On"
Author: Zackary Kephart