Adrianne Lenker, lead singer of the renowned American indie-rock band Big Thief, released her widely acclaimed solo album Songs in late October 2020. Big Thief, celebrated for songs like “Velvet Ring”, “Vampire Empire”, and “Simulation Swarm”, has captivated millions, with around 5 million monthly listeners and a total of 9 million streams.
Before Songs, Lenker had already established a personal and evocative solo discography, with six albums to her name: Stages of the Sun, Hours Were the Birds, B-Sides, A-Sides, Abysskiss, and Instrumentals. In March 2024, she also released her album Bright Future, adding yet another chapter to her growing catalog.
Songs was born from a time of heartache, following a painful breakup and the abrupt cancellation of her band’s tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The album blends the warmth of indie folk with a grain of lo-fi, predominantly carried by the hum of acoustic guitar. Comprised of 11 tracks, it is a meditative exploration of love, loss, and personal renewal. Shortly after its release, two singles—“Anything” and “Dragon Eyes”—further expanded the album’s quiet journey.
The third track “Anything” is a fast-paced yet soothing folk song. With its steady rhythm and heartfelt lyrics, it offers a sense of comfort, drawing the listener in with a gentle and familiar embrace. “Anything” talks about the sharp line between wishes and reality, drowning and ignoring the hard truth of a broken relationship, where Lenker expresses this through the captivating lyrics, “I don’t want to talk about anything // I wanna kiss, kiss your eyes again” which really embodies the feeling of disregarding reality and the feeling of being suffocated by the desire to feel okay again.
The sixth track “Half Return” leaves a strong melancholy sort of nostalgic taste in the back of your throat. Lenker creates a story about her childhood through lyrical expression, telling her childhood experiences and her lukewarm relationship with her parents and how it has changed. Lenker’s riveting lyrics such as “Standing in the yard, dressed like a kid // The house is white and the lawn is dead” and “Honey in your mouth when you gave me my name // Tears in your eyes when you pull the chain // Half return, half return” is read as a bittersweet feeling that most of us can relate to.
The ninth track “Not a Lot, Just Forever” reveals her longing desire for love. This track in particular touches hearts and turns heads falling in her top three most streamed songs. This track fully embraces the warmth of love, or more so wanting love. Lenkers incredibly relatable and poetic lyrics make “Not a lot, just forever” an easy listen. Lenker has a superpower of being able to create pictures with her words. This track’s lyrics speak for themself, being able to listen and create images makes this song easy to bend and shape to someone’s personal experiences. The lyrics “Through your eyes I see // A smile you bring to me” and “Not a lot, just forever // Intertwined sewn together” make a wildly relatable and beautiful song, creating mental imagery and synesthesia.
Songs is a 10/10 lyrical masterpiece. Not only is each track unique, but it tells a story and is an experience. I would recommend Songs to anybody, and I listen and enjoy this album frequently.
