An album that thrives on comfort yet lacks energy...
When Jensen McRae shared a “pre-emptive cover” in 2021, envisioning what a new Phoebe Bridgers single might sound like, it was embraced in the playful spirit intended: part tongue-in-cheek parody, part heartfelt tribute to a songwriter renowned for her recurring themes of getting high and heartbroken in shopping malls and others’ cars. Had McRae instead been prompted to parody the established themes and qualities of a Lucy Dacus album, she could have very well crafted ‘Forever Is A Feeling’—even if that title may come off as somewhat obvious.
The key difference this time is Dacus is in love with her boygenius collaborator, Julien Baker; this is likely a significant factor in why the album occasionally reaches exaggerated levels of delight, as if the music, production, and lyrics were subjected to an AI generation with one continuous request: make it even more swoon-worthy. At one moment in ‘Come Out’, the entire experience feels so ethereal that you find yourself anticipating a harp glissando to further enhance the ambiance—and trust me, what follows will surprise you.
The pleasure in Dacus’ songwriting lies in her knack for pairing sweeping emotions with exquisite, incidental details woven into the narrative; indeed, her most notable contributions to the boygenius debut were precisely in these kinds of moments. They’re present here as well: in ‘Limerence’, one character's prowess at Grand Theft Auto “should be cause for concern,” or the title track’s striking imagery of cherry red and forest green. Just as we begin to be captivated by the latter, however, she delivers arguably her weakest line to date: “Yeah you’re smart, but you’re dumb at heart, and that’s a good start.”
Dacus fully embraces her role as a chanteuse here, and it suits her well: her voice shines, and the blend of her rich alto with well-placed string sections, particularly on ‘Ankles’, proves effective. Yet what’s notably absent—arguably a hallmark of her work—is an emotional punch. There’s plenty of love, with all its ups and downs, especially as a proudly queer woman openly sharing her feelings. However, nothing here matches the emotional weight of songs like ‘Thumbs’ or ‘Timefighter,’ or even something as joyfully energetic as ‘Kissing Lessons.’
Instead, ‘Forever Is A Feeling’ seems content to linger in a dreamy haze for most of its 43 minutes, which isn't inherently problematic; artists aren't obligated to share trauma. The domestic joy depicted in ‘Ankles’, like making tea and solving crossword puzzles in the morning, can certainly inspire. Sadly, much of that time feels more about cliché than wonder, and the second half appears unnervingly cautious—beyond the lack of rich lyrical texture, the songs often resemble acoustic demos that don’t reach any significant emotional or musical peak. The final outcome feels both recognizable and somewhat generic, like a collection of Lucy Dacus covers performed by Lucy Dacus herself, missing the most essential elements.
6/10
Words: Matthew Neale
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When Jensen McRae unveiled a "pre-emptive cover" of what she envisioned a new Phoebe Bridgers single would be like in 2021, it garnered considerable attention.