Adrianne Lenker - 'Bright Future' Review

The enigmatic singer-songwriter delivers 12 spectacular punches right to the gut on 5th solo LP.

I'm just going to come right out and say it; this album wrecked me. In the...best way? I had seen the review scores coming in and was pretty impressed that it was doing so well, so I figured I better check it out myself. I'm sure glad I did! Adrianne Lenker, singer of Big Thief, has captivated me with her songwriting, composition, production, lyrics, you name it.

The best way to describe 'Bright Future' from a genre standpoint would probably be folk with a little tinge of alt. country. Admittedly, though, that really doesn't do the record justice. It's an incredible piece of art and a stream of consciousness by Lenker, as raw and vulnerable as it gets. Over wonderful and finely crafted instrumentals, she croons about love, life, identity, and more. It's kind of hard to describe the song structure, lyrical themes, and music at play without really listening yourself. It's unique and creative, but accessible enough for most fans of folk/indie music.

Although the production can be pretty raw, it never sounds bad, and accents the music pretty well for the most part. Most of the songs on 'Bright Future' are quiet and reserved enough that the bare bones style production is right at home. 'Sadness as a Gift' is an absolutely heart wrenching song about lost love, and 'No Machine' is the other side of the coin, a song about a love so deep you can't imagine your life without it. Sometimes, when things pick up and get a little louder, things can sound a little harsh and clipped. 'Vampire Empire', a cover(?) of a song by her band Big Thief, comes to mind right off the bat as an example. It doesn't happen often, though, and even when it does it's not too much of a distraction.

As I write this review, I'm still taken at the beauty, vulnerability, and songwriting that Adrianne Lenker has brought us with 'Bright Future.' It resonated with me in a way that's pretty rare, and it's a listening experience I certainly am not going to forget. I strongly, strongly recommend this album to anybody reading this. It's that good, and something that truly needs to reach the most amount of ears possible. When the time to name my album of the year comes around, I have a hard time believing that anything else is going to take the mantle.

Standout tracks: Front to back listen is recommended

9.5/10

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