Typically angsty and bittersweet, Lucy Dacus takes a sweeter turn in her recent album “Forever is a Feeling.” “Forever is a Feeling” features thirteen songs and has a run time of forty-three minutes, released on March 28th and available through Apple Music and Spotify. An artist known for comforting the heartbroken with a swelling sound explores the brighter sides of romance, which is no surprise as she has gone public with her Boygenius bandmate Julien Baker. This album dives into her feelings and comes to terms with the emotions surrounding a new relationship and the way said love blossoms.
“Forever is a Feeling” opens with an instrumental prelude titled “Calliope Prelude.” A short song reminiscent of the anxious feeling of having a crush. It is nothing groundbreaking or superbly interesting, but it sets the tone for the album.
As the prelude fades, the next song, “Big Deal” begins. Dacus’s signature emotional lyricism shines through in this song, which captures the feeling and essence of unspoken love, or even love that is not meant to be. This song feels personal. Accompanied by an emotive guitar and synth tones, Dacus sings about her affection for an unnamed person and how she knows they would never work, yet she cannot help but feel affection for said person.
The next song, “Ankles,” is one of the more popular songs and for good reason. The catchy and emotional chorus pulls listeners in as an acoustic guitar and melancholic violin perfectly pair with her vocals. This song seems to be written for all the yearners, those who wish to be vulnerable with the one they love and who so desperately crave that love.
“Limerence” slowly and softly approaches the topic of desire and love. The songs featured on this album almost all focus on love in different ways. For some listeners, it may become repetitive. For others deep in the claws of love, it may be just what they need to hear. “Limerence” focuses on the protagonist’s internal struggle with emotional conflict and even self sabotage. The feeling of disappointing the one you care about and the weight and responsibility of having feelings for someone. The lyrics are relatable and the melody is beautiful like most songs on this track.
A subtle religious reference begins Dacus’, “Modigliani.” The track recounts Dacus’s personal experience of missing fellow musician Phoebe Bridgers and feeling isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dacus also references Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian painter and sculptor, and her experience viewing his art. She connects his tapestries and art to the intimate relationship of friendship and how complex and intertwined emotions can be when dealing with such relationships.
“Talk” and “For Keeps” are the sixth and seventh songs on this album. They are forgettable; both tell of intimacy, self-doubt and, of course, love. Dacus’s lyrics and vocalization always make her songs worth listening to, but 13 songs of the same themes become boring and repetitive.
The title track, “Forever is a Feeling,” is the best song of the album. With a bridge featuring Dacus and Baker and truly impressive emotional-depth, there are no visible flaws in this song. The song is about the duality of love, the all-consuming emotions that take over and the abstract unexplainable feelings that arise.
“Come Out” is yet another song about yearning, frustration and emotional vulnerability. Dacus sings about expectations and the contrast between her emotions and the desire to be close to a loved one. She narrates her difficulties with both physical and emotional distance.
A bass-heavy rhythm and dreamy vocals start off track ten, “Best Guess.” As the song progresses, the tempo builds, reflecting Dacus’ urgency and the shift in dynamics. Her lyrics are intimate and poetic, painting a complex picture of personal growth and change and the fear that comes with change.
“Bullseye” switches things up, being a ballad about a past relationship and the bittersweet aftermath surrounding said relationship. Hozier joins Dacus on this song. Their vocals blend perfectly and remind listeners of Dacus’ tremendous talent in lyricism and harmony. This song is reminiscent of other popular Dacus songs such as “Night Shift,” yet it still manages to fit with the album and flow properly.
“Most Wanted Man,” is undoubtedly captivating and stands out as one of the best songs of the album. The song opens with a quickening electric guitar accentuating Dacus delving deeper into the complexity of her emotions surrounding her love. The instruments perfectly mirror Dacus’s intensity making it feel intimate and real.
The last song of the album, “Lost Time,” is a weak way to end the album, but it fits within the narrative the album tells. Dacus sings in a way that feels like a direct conversation. It’s a heartfelt confession about not wanting to lose any more time with the person she loves.
This album is one of the weaker ones Dacus has put out, but it is sure to resonate with people as love is a universal feeling. It is repetitive and a bit slow, but Dacus’ outstanding storytelling and lyricism makes it worth listening to. “Forever is a Feeling” reflects a new era of Dacus’ life, falling away from sadder songs like “Night Shift” and stepping into an uncomfortable era of love.
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