I’ve enjoyed Big Thief’s music since eighth grade, when my best friend picked out their 2016 debut album “Masterpiece” from a gloriously large CD binder in her mom’s car. That drive introduced me to a whole new genre that I’ve come to appreciate ever since. Big Thief’s music is particularly pleasing because of the lyricism that transports the listener into a song’s story. There is something that’s always been refreshing about Big Thief, especially lead vocalist Adrianne Lenker’s poetic, down-to-earth style of writing. 

Big Thief’s new album “Double Infinity,” released Sept. 5, is the second of Big Thief’s albums that has been released since I first heard their music. My expectations were set high for their newest album. Their fifth album, “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You,” was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2022. It was an expansion of the things the band is most notable for: their lyricism and their textured, somewhat simple instrumentals. 

However, when their four-piece band became a three-piece in 2024, I wasn’t sure how it would affect their album. Fortunately, losing bassist Max Oleartchik for nondescript reasons did not completely change their famous sound.

When I heard their first single, “Incomprehensible,” I was enthused by the sound of it. Even after hearing the whole album, “Incomprehensible” is my pick for the best song. It upholds the characteristic Big Thief lyricism and explores themes like nostalgia and aging. 

The line, “Travelin’ with some stuff I left when I was a kid / Mr. Bear and the wooden box I hid / Full of broken gadgets that mean nothin’ now,” gives the listener a peek into the personal experiences and thoughts of the writer. 

Lenker almost always seems to be writing about her life and experiences, and it’s safe to say this song stays true to that. The main thing I love about her lyrical style is that it’s never vaguely themed; the lyrics always address specific, applicable moments in her life. 

One thing I will say about the album is that on many of the tracks, the sound is a lot more clean and produced. There are more instruments and effects compared to the simple guitar, bass and drum instrumentals that Big Thief used to stick to. It’s more grand and complex but something still recognizable about their sound is the loud, raw drums that dominate the style. With the new stylistic choices, it feels like that sound is somewhat dampened. 

Just because their sound has changed doesn’t mean it’s bad. There are some unique instrumentals on “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You,” which I really enjoyed. But the more synthy and somewhat clean sound of “Double Infinity” makes a strange combination with the folky vocals. 

In the song “Words,” a more complex drum style somewhat distracts from the powerful lyricism that goes so well with the band’s usual loud, punchy drums. I don’t love the heavier vocal echo effect in this song, but it’s still a nice,upbeat track that I enjoy when walking to class on a sunny day.

The song “Grandmother” has some extra vocal accompaniment and zither instrumentals by artist Laraaji, which felt slightly out of place with the simple folk sound of the band, but I won’t say that it wasn’t interesting. 

This album sounds similar to alternative indie rock band Yo La Tengo, offering a more produced and clean sound while operating within the same genre. The different feeling of this album partially comes from the joyful sound that wasn’t utilized in previous records. All the past Big Thief albums have a prominent nostalgic mood that tends to be wistful and sad. This album is still nostalgic, except it feels like coming to terms with the past, an acceptance and a moving on, rather than a conflict. It’s sort of a mood-lifter album without much conflict, which is something I never thought I would say about Big Thief. It’s kind of refreshing, though. 

One of my favorite songs on the album is “Los Angeles.” It has a slower beat and a very nice drum sound that is reminiscent of their older albums. It’s a story of missing someone away from home and reconnecting. The lyrics on this track are especially storytelling and powerful. The lines, “Park Avenue 838 waving to my best friend / Like a soldier at the gate in tears / Feels like it’s been ten years, has it only been two years?” place the listener right into the story of this reconnection. Most people can connect to having or at least wanting to reconnect with someone, but the specifics, like the feelings, places and amount of time they’ve been apart, are what make this song so charming and interesting. 

I also loved the title track, “Double Infinity.” It’s classic, and contains characteristic features of their music. It solidifies the theme of the album as a think piece on time and accepting the changes that come with it. I really like the lines, “Longin’ to go back again / To be someone I’ve never been / I echo and I seek to win / Mournin’ and celebratin’.” 

As a freshman at the University of Missouri, I can relate to this complex feeling of nostalgia. Leaving my established comfort zone behind, starting new in a different place with different people and expectations is both a celebration and a mourning, as Lenker describes in “Double Infinity.” 

I have a really high standard for Big Thief, and have a nostalgic connection to their sound in their first couple albums. Though the punchier, rawer, homemade sort of sound has been phased out, the more upbeat feeling is fresh, and Lenker’s lyricism never fails to impress. 

Edited by Mikalah Owens | [email protected]
Copy edited by Ellenna Forbes and Avery Copeland | [email protected]
Edited by Alex Gribb | [email protected]