Two new records from indie stalwarts. Lucy Dacus edges closer to the mainstream with the genteel Forever is a Feeling. Meanwhile, Dan Bejar continues his erstwhile path, mellower but unmistakably Destroyer.
Lucy Dacus
Forever is a Feeling
2025, 7/10
From Richmond, Virginia, Lucy Dacus had already forged a noteworthy career as an indie musician when she joined Boygenius. After Boygenius’ album cycle, she’s picked back up with her solo career. It’s noticeably different, less earthy and ambitious. She’s also in a relationship with her Boygenius bandmate Julien Baker,
They’re love songs, mostly. I was just thinking about how most art through time has been motivated by love, so it’s not like it’s new material. So while I was recording, I was just thinking about antiquity, both sonically and visually. That’s why I like the oil painting for the album cover and playing these museum shows before I properly go on tour. And sonically, too, having a harpist and strings players and a celesta, that’s a cool instrument. I think we put some harpsichord on it as well. Just kind of harkening back to some older sounds. I just thought that would make sense.
Lucy Dacus, NPR
It feels like she’s given up too much for a more mainstream sound, even though she’s still a good songwriter. She’s often effective in the pop/rock field, like on ‘Modigliani’, although the strongest moments occur when she leans into a rawer sound. ‘Talk’ is a concise rocker, with some edge in the guitar squall. The closer ‘Lost Time’ has the moments of catharsis that you expect from Dacus, especially when it hits top gear in the final minute.
‘Bullseye’ is a duet with Hozier, where they harmonise beautifully.
I don’t like to dictate what artistic direction, but I prefer Dacus making cathartic, raw rockers. There aren’t quite enough on Forever is a Feeling.
Destroyer
Dan’s Boogie
2025, 8/10
Destroyer have the most misleading name in popular music. What you expect is death metal or perhaps a KISS tribute band. What you get is a man sardonically purring and bleating his twisted insights over smooth yacht rock. He took a year’s sabbatical from songwriting after Labyrinthitis, and he wrote Dan’s Boogie on the piano. He noted to Vulture that “I was probably thinking of the only kind of music I really listen to, which is jazz vocalists from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s.”
Despite the different approach, it doesn’t sound much different from previous Destroyer records. It’s still all about his sardonic delivery coupled with John Collins’ cavernous production.
A priest mistakes me for a priest
Dan Bejar (muscling into MJ Lenderman’s lyrical territory)
Mistakes me for a Houston Rocket
The highlight is the eight-minute ‘Cataract Time’, where Bejar meditates on a moment of reckoning. It’s repetitive but it works, and the saxophone soloing in the conclusion is gorgeous.
Many of the records I’ve covered recently feature a duet. On ‘Bologna’, Bejar duets with Fiver’s Simone Schmidt. There are lovely arrangement ideas on the record, like the sweeping strings of ‘The Same Thing as Nothing at All’ and the jazzy beat of the title track.
Bejar’s reliably interesting, and Dan’s Boogie is an excellent addition to his catalogue.
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Both Lucy Dacus and Destroyer (agree about the odd name, given Bejar’s music) are both new artists to me and, I think it’s fair to say, a bit beyond my core wheelhouse. That said, sonically, I’m more intrigued by Bejar. I also feel there’s more variety than on Dacus’ album. As such, if I’d revisit one of the two albums, I’d go with “Dan’s Boogie.”
I feel like you’d probably like Dacus’s older stuff, the new one is too glossy to emphasise her strengths.
Great reads. As much as I like her, I wasn’t crazy about the new Lucy Dacus I must admit, but really like the new Destroyer album. Much better than Labyrinithitis. A huge improvement in my book.
Yeah, I feel like my Destroyer rankings are a little out of wack at the moment – Labyrinithitis is my least favourite of the three I’ve covered so far. He’s pretty consistent though.
Agreed. I’m more into their earlier stuff like Nighthawk, Your Blues. Rubies etc, another great read from you.
I like the Lucy Dacus cut…nice clear voice and melody. I looked up more on YouTube…Hot and Heavy and Addictions…I liked those…I’ll listen to some more tonight.
I was a little disappointed by this new one, but I think she’s really talented still. ‘True Blue’ from Boygenius is another good one.
I did like he earlier ones more but this one got me to listen.