The War On Drugs Take a Sonic Leap on ‘A Deeper Understanding’
Review by Daniel Downing
It has been three years since The War On Drugs released their breakthrough record Lost in the Dream. This record, A Deeper Understanding, makes it clear right off the bat that this is sonic leap forward. While the last record sounded like the band was playing in your room, this one immerses the listener into an ocean of layered synths and guitar.
The soft rock vibe and heavy reverb permeates A Deeper Understanding. The record brings to mind memories of beach parties with your summer fling and douses the listener with this feeling. The most eye-catching statistic of this record is its length. Though it has only ten songs, the length exceeds over an hour, with the average song clocking in around six minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xam6M36KzA
This album is about soaking in the vibe of each track rather than the craft of songwriting. On the more uptempo songs such as “Up All Night” and “Holding On,” the driving bass lines propel the tempo, allowing the listener to enjoy the guitar licks and the vibe that the synths lay down.
The mellower songs, i.e. “Knocked Down,” “Clean Living,” and the 11-minute “Thinking of a Place” take their time to find the beautiful moments within them. The highest compliment I can give “Thinking of a Place” is that it feels much shorter than its run time. This is because the band keeps finding lovely moments with fuzzed-out guitars, saxophone playing that sound like guitar and vice versa, and graceful harmonica playing (which is a treat every time that it appears on the record).
Overall the record is strong, other than “Knocked Down” (the shortest song clocking in at four minutes) which just doesn’t measure up to the rest of the material. The record really soars with the next song “Nothing to Find” with its upbeat tempo and enchanting synth fills. It truly one of the best songs on the record.
Another highlight, “In Chains,” engages with its circular keyboard riff that is present for most of the song. The song culminates with a moment that could captivate arenas and is a perfect pairing after the lengthy “Thinking of a Place.”
A Deeper Understanding gives the listener a deeper listening experience and is sonically a step forward for The War On Drugs. It is unfortunate that this great summer record is being released at the end of August, but fall is a great time to feel nostalgic for the summer.
A Deeper Understanding will be available streaming and on vinyl on August 25th.
Grade: B+
Suggested Tracks: “Holding on,” “Nothing to Find,” “In Chains”
‘A Deeper Understanding’ (2LP, Yellow Vinyl, LTD to 3,000) *Vinyl Me, Please Exclusive Edition* Available for pre-order HERE: https://Atlantic.lnk.to/
The War On Drugs are Adam Granduciel, David Hartley, Robbie Bennett, Charlie Hall, Anthony Lamarca, and Jon Natchez.
ON TOUR THIS FALL
09/21 Philadelpha,PA @ Dell Music Center
09/22 New York,NY @ Summerstage
09/23 Boston,MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
09/25 Charlotte,NC @ The Fillmore
09/26 Atlanta,GA @ The Tabernacle
09/28 Dallas,TX @ The Bomb Factory
09/29 Houston,TX @ White Oak Music Hall
09/30 Austin,TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek**
10/05 Los Angeles,CA @ Greek Theatre
10/06 Berkeley,CA @ Greet Theatre
10/09 Seattle,WA @ Moore Theatre
10/11 Portland,OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
10/13 Salt Lake City,UT @ The Complex
10/14 Denver,CO @ Ogden Theatre
10/18 St.Paul,MN @ Palace Theatre
10/19 Chicago,IL @ Riviera Theatre
10/20 Columbus,OH @ Express Live!
10/21 Toronto,ON @ Massey Hall
11/02 Amsterdam,NL @ AFAS Live*
11/03 Köln,DE @ E-Werk
11/04 Brussels,BE @ Forest National
11/06 Paris, FR @ Bataclan
11/09 Glasgow,UK @ Barrowlands
11/10 Glasgow,UK @ Barrowlands
11/12 Manchester,UK @O2
11/14 London,UK @ Alexandra Palace
11/17 Zurich,CH @ X-tra
11/18 Milan,IT @ Fabrique
11/20 München,DE @ Muffathalle
11/21 Hamberg,DE @ Große Freiheit 36
11/22 Berlin,DE @ Tempodrom
11/24 Oslo,NO @ Spektrum
11/25 Copenhagen,DK @ Tap 1
11/27 Stockholm,SE @ Annexet
You can follow Daniel Downing on twitter @deathbyzamboni