Lucy Dacus - Forever Is A Feeling
Indie rock darling and member of the supergroup boygenius, Lucy Dacus makes a triumphant return with her first album in four years, exploring uncharted sonic landscapes and delving into deeply intimate lyricism.
Nostalgia has always been a cornerstone of Lucy Dacus's artistry. Her sophomore album, Historian, showcased her talent as a vivid storyteller of bygone days, while her third album, Home Video, revisited her childhood and moments that could've been immortalized on a grainy camcorder decades ago. Forever is a Feeling, her fourth solo effort, partially mirrors this reflective approach but veers in a strikingly new direction: Dacus finally looks forward to the future while embracing the essence of the present.
True to form, Forever is a Feeling positions Dacus as a hopeless romantic. Take “Big Deal”—a track with both sonic and lyrical echoes of “True Blue” from the record, the Grammy-winning album that took the music world in 2023. As delicate acoustic guitars intertwine with strings and subtle synths, her voice unfurls like spring blossoms, blooming with sheer beauty.
Then, “Ankles” and “Limerence”, reveal new facets of her artistry. Here, Dacus leans into chamber folk reminiscent of Fiona Apple’s works. “Ankles” impresses with its masterfully conveyed neoclassical Romanticism aesthetic, though its playful scissors-related lines are bound to make you chuckle. Meanwhile, “Limerence” builds an even more intimate atmosphere, exposing the most tender vulnerabilities of the artist.
Yet, the album’s musical breadth doesn’t stop there. Soon after, the thunderous drums and roaring guitars of “Talk” sweep over you. On this commanding track, Dacus radiates confidence, painting a portrait of a detached, heartbroken woman. But does heartbreak spell the end? The title track, “Forever is a Feeling”, crushes that notion, asserting that love persists in all its forms. Dacus's lyrical mastery shines here, each word chosen with such precision it feels like second nature.
The album is elevated by its guest features. Alongside familiar cameos from Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, whose voices grace the record, Hozier makes a surprise appearance on “Bullseye”. His vocals meld seamlessly with Dacus's delicate narrative, creating one of the album's standout moments. Hot on “Bullseye’s” heels comes “Most Wanted Man”, arguably the most rock-infused track on the album. While its sound diverges from the rest of Forever is a Feeling, it doesn’t disrupt the record’s flow or cohesion.
Pop music has heard countless love songs—many overly saccharine, others insincerely hollow. But Forever is a Feeling is more than a mere collection of tracks about the stages of a relationship. It offers an alternative take on a well-worn theme, occasionally veering into unflinchingly raw intimacy. Lucy Dacus’s defining strength has always been her ability to find the right words at just the right moment—she can both reopen fresh wounds and immerse listeners in a state of boundless euphoria. Ultimately, Forever is a Feeling captures the best and worst moments of an experience we all yearn to embrace.
7.5/10
