Rating: 6.5/10
With an orchestral introduction, Lucy Dacus welcomes listeners into the dreamy landscape of her fourth record, “Forever is a Feeling,” released this past Friday.
The first track, “Calliope Prelude,” is an instrumental marked by ethereal and swelling strings, pulling audiences into the indie singer-songwriter’s introspective world.
The recurring motif is a sense of longing, a theme that previously led to Dacus being labeled as a “sad girl” of indie rock with her previous records. Although in an interview with NEXT Magazine, she shared that she never fully identified with this title.
“Ankles” is a prime example of this. It was released alongside a Renaissance-inspired music video starring Dacus and “Bottoms” actress Havana Rose Liu. Lush with reverberating violin and cello, the song evokes the slow buildup of a blooming relationship.
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As Dacus sings, “I want you to show me what you mean/ Then help me with the crossword in the mornings,” her yearning engulfs listeners.
The album’s quieter moments, though slightly repetitive, also hold weight. For example, “Limerence,” a doleful piano ballad, lingers in sorrow.
However, the delicate quality that Dacus is known for can feel worn out and played too safe. The songs follow a predictable pattern with a softness that can tire and doesn’t strike.
The best parts of the record are when Dacus sings with refreshing honesty. “Modigliani,” named after the Italian painter known for his portraits of elongated faces, achieves just this.
The song, featuring background vocals from longtime friend and collaborator Phoebe Bridgers, pays tribute to their years of companionship.
Dacus muses with lyrics as intimate as whispered secrets, singing “I’ve heard this anecdote at least a dozen times/ Yeah, I know every word and inflection as if it were mine.”
Shifting gears to something more exciting, “Talk” leans into an indie-rock edge. Gritty and volatile, the lyrics recount a relationship unraveling.
The energy dips again with “For Keeps,” a soft, acoustic ballad characteristic of Dacus’s intimate, stripped-down style. Beautiful yet predictable, it lacks the punch of her best work.
“Best Guess” stands out, both for its airy melancholia and its accompanying music video, which Dacus cast through a TikTok open call for “hot mascs.” The video also features big names like Cara Delevingne, Towa Bird and MUNA’s Naomi McPherson.
With lyrics like “You may not be an angel/ But you are my girl,” the song reportedly references her relationship with fellow boygenius member Julien Baker, a romance recently confirmed in Dacus’s recent The New Yorker profile.
“Bullseye” is the album’s only official feature, with Hozier lending his rich vocals. The collaboration feels natural for the indie artists, and their voices meld together perfectly.
Woven into the lyrics are her usual introspectiveness and delicate storytelling. However, despite its strengths, “Forever Is a Feeling” lacks a daring factor, like the production choices that made “Home Video,” Dacus’s previous record, compelling.
This album is a record of quiet reflections, honest and deeply felt, but rarely surprising. Still, across its 13 tracks, Dacus remains a strong storyteller.
