The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

The War on Drugs
A Deeper Understanding
2017
Spotify

The War on Drugs is about precision. Every note is in the right place, every pause is fussed over and Adam Granduciel would have it no other way. Granduciel, the driving force of The War on Drugs, has drawn comparisons to some of the greats like Springsteen, Dylan and others form the 80s singer songwriter generation especially in this period of the bands history. This album is not quite as psychedelic as Tame Impala's Currents but it strikes a similar chord of inspired guitar rock that blends in keyboards and synths to really set it off. The instruments and sounds The War on Drugs use could easily be defined as dated, but Granduciel manages to shift each one just slightly enough to make them shine when blended together. A driving bass usually takes us to some kind of soaring drop complete with sweet xylophone like on "Holding On" but it's the crystal clear drums pounding away in the background that really make it special. These songs are all such anthems that it almost feels overwhelming. You would expect for one song on a record to soar like "Strangest Thing" but damn near every single one on A Deep Understanding reaches this epicness. At only 10 second but over an hour of music it means each track is really going to take it's time unfolding which on one hand can make for something great and on the other can start to feel a bit stale are you reach the six, seven and even 11 minute marks. I often complain about a song dragging, yet these never do because The War on Drugs packs so much music within them, it is almost too much of a good thing in a way.

Another issue with songs this long is picking out certain pieces to focus on becomes quite difficult. There may be an aspect at the beginning of "Nothing to Find" but it slips away into something completely different by the end. It makes getting a hold of a song a bit slippery and circle dangerously close to jam band territory. "Thinking of a Place" however is the one time they go full force into the jam banding waters. You think the song is about to end, only to realize you are only about halfway through which is frustrating to say the least. The album is so intensely personal reflecting the amount of work Granduciel put into it producing, engineering and playing the majority of the instruments. A Deeper Understanding is not about a deeper understanding about the world around you, but rather about what lies inside. He is deep diving into the intricacies of personal experience with loneliness, isolation, struggle and the times where all that seems to melt away and all you have left is the music. You would expect with this much personal introspection you would have some clunky pieces but the entire record is incredibly slick. This record may leave you feeling inspired or may leave you feeling confused but for those willing to take the long journey with The War on Drugs A Deeper Understanding will bring you something really special.

8.0 out of 10