Long Lost (studio album) by Lord Huron

From Mercury 07/29/2021 20:58

(A formidable, beautiful alt-country/chamber folk-type album that, while quite pretty can leave me feeling like its a bit empty of real grit and meaning.)

My relationship with this album has developed and shifted several times over the last couple months. When I first heard it, I admit I was kind of in love. On second and third and now fourth listen, there is a diminishing return. Each time I hear it I am always impressed by the scale and beauty of the album. There is clearly a person who has a good familiarity and understanding of country and folk making this. The strings, while sometimes overbearing and sappy, generally create a larger-than-life romantic atmosphere especially when paired with the somewhat gritty tales of woe and loss and the twangy vocal and guitar parts. The production is pretty solid, pristine and generally un-ear-catching. And really the indicidual parts seem to be pretty well placed and well done. But... there is something missing that would make this a true gem. I like it but that ain't much of a benchmark considering my general love of this genre and aesthetic.

There is a cleanness and detached lack of passion here that can be a bit irksome. The vocals sound like someone playing the part of a sad, wandering country troubadour but it also does feel like an act or veneer. The calculated placement of strings to induce swoons and feeling sound, well, just like that - calculated plays for that lonesome lostness that is so incredible when truly pulled off.

The little snippets of old TV shows wear out their welcome almost instantly and when ythey come in, it does 2 things: 1. makes me roll my eyes and 2. kind of breaks immersion and makes the whole flow of the record experience some turbulence. Not a fan of that schtick and choice. Also I feel this album isn't varied enough or doesn't have enough of an arc or a cohesive stitching to justify an hour run time.

Okay, so, yeah I don't love this album. I do like it. I may sound like I really dislike it, but I assure you that is not the case. It should also be noted that today I am in a bit of a sour and cantankerous mood and this album's pitch for my heart strings is being faced with cold, unsympathetic, grouchy old me and so yeah, tough crowd. But the truth is somewhere between my initial lovey-dovey response and today's grouchy curmudgeon response.

Even now I can say some of the songs here are quite great and if the tracks "Not Dead Yet" with its old rock and roll swagger and its hand claps, "Mine Forever" which plays as a near-perfect introduction to the swooning, string-laden lost troubadour vibe this album is trying to pull off, "I Lied" with its truly moving and mournful duet and soulful sadness and regret and self-loathing/disappointment, "Long Lost" with its melodramatic production and that early 60s girl group rhythm and that weak piano adding that sweet touch, made up half of this album instead of 1/4th this album i'd say this was a triumph. But the album is weighed down by filler skits and TV bits and songs that are generally not memorable for me.

Overall, I like this style and some of the songs hereare stellar. And I like the record but don't, like, REALLY like it and certainly don't love it. It's a solid and pretty little Americana/Country/Indie Folk album with lots of Chamber folk and some alt-country thrown in for some variety. If you are into that, check it out.