Album Review :: The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

The War On Drugs

A Deeper Understanding

August 25 2017 (Atlantic Records)

8/10

Words: Richard O’Hagan

One of the rather lovely things about the past couple of years in music has been the way that Philadelphians The War On Drugs have been taken to heart by the mainstream media. Having initially found the band’s name to be somewhat offputting, they seem to have won over the doubters by the sheer quality of their musicianship.

That musical ability is something which they are all too keen to demonstrate on ‘A Deeper Understanding’, their fourth studio album since their formation in 2005, and first in four years. Most of the ten tracks here are over five minutes long, with ‘Thinking of a Place’ clocking in at over 11(!). Yet for all of that, the music never becomes boring or repetitive. There are melodic guitars, lush keyboards and rich saxophones everywhere you look.

One testament to the sheer consistency of the songwriting of Adam Granduciel and co is that whilst there have been two singles released from this record – ‘Holding On’ and the recently-issued ‘Pain’ – neither really stands out as being any better than the other tracks around it. Indeed, the only time that the formula really noticeably varies is on ‘Nothing to Find’, which is markedly much more uptempo than the rest of the record.

Overarching all of this is are Granduciel’s gruff, cracked and at times almost spoken vocals. It is a voice which carries all of the ennui of someone who didn’t find success until his late thirties and who doesn’t quite know what to make of it all. On the evidence of this album, it is something that he is going to just have to get used to.