Not much can be said about singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus that hasn't already been said a million times over. From her impactful solo work to her record-breaking indie supergroup, boygenius, the case for one of the generation's greatest musicians shines bright for Dacus. Since her debut back in 2016 with No Burden, Lucy Dacus has continued to flourish and expand under her massive talent. Whether shredding the guitar for some pop-rock ballad or using her soft-spoken poetic vocals for a hushed melody, the singer does it with style.
For her new album, Forever Is a Feeling, Dacus is the best we've seen her. With such an album cover that harkens back to the Renaissance era, Dacus shows up and completely shows out in a project that further cements her legacy status as indie's greatest artist. On the 13 track project, Lucy Dacus weaves a tale of heartbreak, deep romantic dreams, and the way we operate between the two.
The opening track, "Calliope," is a beautiful Greek mythology-inspired musical romantic journey. "Calliope," much like the Muse who the track is named after, calls listeners to wander upon a treasure trove of music. Using a single volin, the song makes for a great intro into a project swirling with painting and ancient Greek cultural themes. Dacus has a special goal in mind for the track, which is to grab the listeners' attention.
Much of Forever Is a Feeling is centered around that goal. Leaning on string instruments, Lucy Dacus elevates the musical level of the project into a new soundscape. If Home Video spoke about the pressures of growing up and homebound sickness, this album speaks about the effects of growing up into adulthood and the essence of it. Pack into the album is a sexiness glow (as seen from the cover) that Dacus carries with grace. On "Ankles," we get that side of Dacus we rarely see.
"Ankles" plays out like a whismcal warm glow of a sexual fantasy. "Pull me by the ankles to the edge of the bed / take me like you do in your dreams," Dacus calls out in the heat of the moment. Loads of playful forplay and emotional mind games fuel the indie rockstar's desires. While the track is filled with sexual innuendo, Dacus keeps in line with the sophistication of it all.
The moments of self-reflection and thoughts of the future come on tracks like "Limerence." It's a question everyone eventually comes to in their lives, and Lucy Dacus confronts her time here. Underneath a soft piano ballad, Dacus sings about dark subjects. While the singer has never truly shied away from matters like that, it's refreshing to see a new angle in her vision.
With such a thought-provoking album title, one would have to wonder: who is the creative muse behind the new album?
Written in between the Fall and Summer of 2024, the "Night Shift" singer opens up about the new romance fueling her romantic awakening. In between the chords, Dacus very much weighed the price of love. "Best Guess" is one of the slower tracks on the album. On the project, Dacus brings along an array of collaborators, such as Bartees Strange, Andrew Lappin, Madison Cunningham, and Chloe Saavedra. These creative group envision a delicate queer centric anthem.
For fans of boygenius, band members Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker harmonize on a few tracks. The trio is close-knit, and it shows through the music. Seems Lucy Dacus checked off her wish as an alternative folk tailblazer Hozier drops in for "Bullseye."
Forever is, indeed, a long time. For some, it can be a chance to introduce new elements of life and its purpose. For Dacus, the feeling of forever brings a new sense of longing and renewal. The beauty of love is that it doesn't last forever.
On Forever Is a Feeling, Lucy Dacus is in peak form. Her status as a bonafide storyteller is further on display like the Mona Lisa, everyone wants to be in her presence. She skips across the album with her head held high and paints with a fine stroke, amassing a Monet-style talent. Each song is carefully placed within the project but overall showcases a larger portfolio. It's hard to see how Lucy Dacus could one-up Home Video or even boygenius' GRAMMY-winning the record. The project is raw in its effect on the heart and doesn't pull back in its vulnerability. Lucy Dacus makes the early case for the most profound album this year.
Lucy Dacus' Forever Is a Feeling is available on all streaming platforms.
