Adrianne Lenker is a special artist. A long-time contributor to the contemporary indie scene, Lenker has been releasing music as a solo artist and band member since as early as 2014. Her newest album, “Bright Future,” comes after the remarkably successful Grammy-nominated album “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You” from her band, Big Thief.
Released on March 22, “Bright Future” was recorded “straight to tape,” with minimal edits. This recording process is a favorite of Lenker’s and allows her to experiment more creatively with her sound. Each recording and each performance is a little different. I was lucky enough to experience firsthand the power that their musical freedom can have when I saw Big Thief play live in Indianapolis last summer. The performed songs varied differently from their recorded versions and videos of other nights of the tour.
The acoustic, almost off-the-cuff sound of “Bright Future” lends an intuitive, flexible feel to the entire album, especially as Lenker’s vocals freely emphasize the most emotional lyrics. Each song on the album sounds like something sung around the campfire on a late summer night: folksy and intimate. Lenker’s raw vocals and vulnerable lyrics play up this intimacy, especially in songs like “Evol,” “Vampire Empire” and “Free Treasure.”
The album opens with the song “Real House,” a six-minute instrumental track with lyrics that sound more like spoken word poetry than song lyrics. Incredibly sad, “Real House” prepares the listener for the deeply emotional album ahead, although it felt in some ways too raw to start the album with. It is not a song you can listen to every day and may have been better placed at the end of the album as a vulnerable conclusion to an emotionally rich body of work.
The second song on “Bright Future” is probably the best. Called “Sadness As A Gift,” the 2024 single stands out as one of the singer’s greatest vocal performances with relatable lyrics, and a catchy folk tune to back them up. Along with “Sadness As A Gift,” the songs “No Machine,” “Cell Phone Says” and another original single, “Fool,” made it into my list of favorites from the album. The lyrics of these songs felt unique, but relatable, which is a key aspect of Lenker’s writing style.
On the opposite side, my least favorites included the opener, “Real House,” another single, “Ruined” and Lenker’s solo version of Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire.” After hearing Big Thief’s much fuller version, it was difficult to listen to Lenker’s stripped-down folk-heavy rendition without pining for a bit more oomph.
For new listeners, Lenker’s intuitive performance is perfect for a sad springtime listen. But for long-time fans of Lenker, “Bright Future” is a more-than-welcome addition to the singer’s discography. For songs that scream “classic Adrianne,” fans should listen to “Already Lost,” “Cell Phone Says” and “Free Treasure.” For some more experimental sounds, listen to “Real House” and “Ruined.”
If the “Bright Future” release still isn’t enough Lenker for you, you’re in luck. The artist also recently released a six-song collection exclusively on Bandcamp. The E.P. is called “i won’t let go of your hand” and all proceeds from the album’s sales go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
