Hypnotic rock to get lost in
The War on Drugs (Secretly Canadian)
Bigged up by The National, who have used their song, Brothers, for intro music on this world tour, the Philadelphia outfit could – and should – gain a significant following thanks to this ambitious, occasionally intoxicating, third album.
Building on the promise of their last album, Slave Ambient, Lost in the Dream is a widescreen all-American rock opus that covers an awful lot of ground in its 60-minute run time.
Frontman Adam Granduciel channels many of the greats – his vocals are reminiscent of both Bob Dylan and Tom Petty – while his jaundiced lyrical preoccupations echo those of Bruce Springsteen.
And it's the E Street Band filtered through War-era U2 that his band most resemble on big, sprawling songs like opener Under the Pressure which employs guitars and horns to sensational, hypnotic effect.
With the group's original leader, Kurt Vile, appearing on many of those best-of lists for his fifth solo album, his erstwhile bandmates deserve similar plaudits.
Under the Pressure; Suffering
Day & Night
