Lucy Dacus makes a warm return with “Forever Is A Feeling”
Lucy Dacus' fourth album, Forever Is A Feeling, thrives in its understated beauty. With lush instrumentals, deeply personal lyricism, and a quiet intimacy, the album feels more like a whispered confession than a grand proclamation. While its uniform tone may not be groundbreaking, it creates an immersive experience that captures love, longing, and fleeting moments with remarkable poignancy.
The album opens with “Calliope Prelude,” a reverent instrumental piece that establishes themes of devotion and nostalgia. “Big Deal” follows as a heartbreaking meditation on unrequited love, with lines like, “We both know that it would never work/You’ve got your girl, you’re gonna marry her/And I’ll be watching in a pinstriped suit” delivering quiet devastation.
Photograph by Lenne Chai
Lead single “Ankles” balances sensuality with domestic intimacy, shifting from passion to comfort with details like, “You help me with the crossword in the mornings.” The lush arrangements tie back to the album’s classical influences. “Limerence” takes a more whimsical approach, pairing elegant piano with youthful lyricism (“Shoveling popcorn into my mouth/So I don’t say the things I’m thinking out loud”), while “Modigliani” uses harp to create a dreamlike quality, heightening Dacus' introspective musings.
One of the album’s most raw tracks, “Talk,” captures the heartbreak of lost connection through a simple yet gutting refrain: “Why can't we talk anymore?/We used to talk for hours.” Sonically, its heavier bassline and grittier instrumentals stand out. Meanwhile, “For Keeps” sees Dacus exploring theological themes (“If the Devil's in the details/And God is everything/Who's to say they are not one and the same?”) before grounding them in personal tenderness: “God is in the gap in your teeth.”
Vocally, “Come Out” is one of Dacus’ most stunning performances, a glowing testament to love: “Why am I not wherever you are?” The uniform tone of the album makes it easy to get lost in, but moments like this shine with warmth and sincerity. “Best Guess” is effortlessly sweet, its wordplay in the lines, “You may not be an angel/But you are my girl,” making the love story feel both fated and deeply personal.
Hozier joins on “Bullseye,” adding a necessary shift in texture. His emotion-filled voice elevates the poetic directness of lines like, “You’re a bullseye and I aimed right/I’m a straight shot/You’re a grand prize.” In contrast, “Most Wanted Man” leans into playful power-pop energy, its cheeky. flirty lyricism offering a refreshing lightness.
The closing track, “Lost Time,” encapsulates the album’s central theme of cherishing fleeting love. “Nothing lasts forever, but let’s see how far we get,” she sings, her warmth radiating even in the face of inevitable loss. “I love you, and every day that I didn’t say is lost time.” It’s a stunning conclusion that lingers long after the final note.
Forever Is A Feeling doesn’t demand attention—it envelops the listener in its warmth and mundanity. While it may not reinvent Dacus' sound, its strength lies in capturing intimacy in all its delicate, everyday glory. She proves that love, even in its quietest moments, can feel like forever.