Album Review: Lost In the Dream by The War on Drugs

Music Journalist

Bryce Sexson

Some music groups take pride in reaching a large audience, but the real hidden gems lie in music created without limitations, considering the creative boundaries artists have to account for when catering towards a wide audience. The standard for successful music, typically, is songs with a catchy chorus and memorable accompaniment that usually are refined to three minutes. Rock and Roll, however, is successful because of its ability to abide by no rules, making it the perfect genre for artists who enjoy being creative. The War On Drugs is an indie rock band who got their start in Philadelphia in 2005. They had released a couple albums before their record, Lost In The Dream, whose success would earn the band a two record deal with Atlantic Records. Though it wasn’t the most commercially successful album, the band would be recognized for their authentic sound while providing notes of classic rock and roll. Today, I wanted to write about my favorite and most notable tracks in order to bring some more attention to one of the best indie albums from the last fifteen years.

Starting with “Under the Pressure”, this song takes the listener on a journey one could see fit to listen to while driving on a long stretch of lonely road. Its captivating presence makes it the perfect introduction to the album. The instrumentation of the song witnesses’ guitars that offer a uniquely delicate texture, while the keyboards add depth and color to the sound. This song’s slow buildup makes the ending emotionally resonant and permits a memorable experience for the listener. Another song that captures feelings of emotional turmoil while also tackling the idea of faith is the track “Red Eyes”. The song contains a continuous drum beat, with keyboards adding mystical sounds to the backing track. The song contains no chorus, allowing the listener to feel like they’re listening to the thoughts of the lead singer, Adam Granduciel. The song carries upbeat instrumental breaks which are sometimes followed by belting vocals, addressing the theme of emotional turmoil the song conveys.

Continuing along “Suffering” takes a slower approach than the other songs head thus far. The song uses a guitar as the lead instrument that carries the song through feelings of being lost and emotionally disconnected. The song describes a detached relationship, whether the feelings are mutual is left up to the listener’s interpretation. Granduciel expresses the idea that his partner is staying in the relationship but suffering because of it. The song ends with a haunting guitar solo that leads to a soft drum beat, allowing the listener to process the themes of the song and possibly find a way to relate with it. “Disappearing” acts like a transition point in the album, with its primary focus being on the long instrumental break that carries the listener to the end of the song. Granduciel asks a simple question, whether the person he’s in love with would wait for him if he were to disappear. The song’s main instrument is a guitar with a dominant drum presence towards the end of the song.

Halfway through, as an intermission “The Haunting Idle” serves as a haunting, strictly instrumental track with its quality allowing it to capture the listener’s attention, bringing them back to the world that the band has created. Its use of synthesizers allows for a dream-like sound, with a piano adding a touch of classicism and melody. The album’s title track “Lost In The Dream” dials back on the rock and roll sound in order to provide a song whose genre could only be classified as americana. The use of the harmonica adds to the song’s backroad atmosphere, reminding the listener of the special nature of the album. This penultimate song acts as a perfect transition into the ending of the album.

The final song on the album “In Reverse” deals with the idea of change and reflection. Its use of the most prominent instruments throughout the album makes it the perfect ending. The song begins with a softer sound, with Granduciel reflecting on his feelings of loneliness and depression. It then transitions into a catchy chorus where he accepts that his life is moving forward and that harping on the past doesn’t help anyone.