Nickyboy
Staff member
When Zeebs said that my year was 2014, I thought there was no way in hell I will be able to find anything. Well, a jaunt down the charts on RYM pretty much confirmed my first impression. However, there were four or five albums I knew and liked in the top 100. So, where did I go? The pop of Future Islands? The art-dance of St. Vincent? The neo-psychedelia of Temples? Or the minimalist ambient glitch from Fennesz? All strong contenders. Instead, I took the road less traveled by me. I present for your consideration "Lost in the Dream" by The War on Drugs.
The War on Drugs is primarily Philly boy Adam Granduciel, a multi-instrumentalist who surrounds himself with a supporting cast of other musicians as needed. With a band name like that, you might be wondering what the hell is this going to sound like? The RYM page for this album has a list of descriptors longer than a spoiled child's Want List for Santa Claus. Indie, Heartland rock, Americana, electronic, laid back, ethereal, etc., etc. While many of the tags seem to contradict one another, subsequent listens to the album will reveal that they all apply. Swirling guitars, rolling drums, subtle synthesizers and sometimes not so subtle, and a male whose voice reminds me of Ryan Adams and early Bob Dylan's love child (don't let the Dylan reference throw you).
If this album doesn't grab you on first listen, I ask you to wait a bit and spin it again. It reveals its musical secrets over time. Available for listening on Spotify and everywhere else you can stream your favorite music.
The War on Drugs is primarily Philly boy Adam Granduciel, a multi-instrumentalist who surrounds himself with a supporting cast of other musicians as needed. With a band name like that, you might be wondering what the hell is this going to sound like? The RYM page for this album has a list of descriptors longer than a spoiled child's Want List for Santa Claus. Indie, Heartland rock, Americana, electronic, laid back, ethereal, etc., etc. While many of the tags seem to contradict one another, subsequent listens to the album will reveal that they all apply. Swirling guitars, rolling drums, subtle synthesizers and sometimes not so subtle, and a male whose voice reminds me of Ryan Adams and early Bob Dylan's love child (don't let the Dylan reference throw you).
If this album doesn't grab you on first listen, I ask you to wait a bit and spin it again. It reveals its musical secrets over time. Available for listening on Spotify and everywhere else you can stream your favorite music.
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on the Sam-O-Meter.
