Although often photographed in a suit alongside her bandmates, Lucy Dacus is the soft side of the sharp songwriting group boygenius. The critically acclaimed group, composed of Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, won Best Alternative Music Album for their 2023 album “The Record.” While the trio shares a deep bond, each member has carved out their own solo career, cultivating signature sounds that transcend the group. Bridgers offers melancholic melodies, Baker is a rising folk star and Dacus embodies all things ethereal.
After years of speculation, Dacus confirmed her romantic relationship with Baker during a March 17 interview with The New Yorker. This flame burns loudly on Dacus’ third studio album, “Forever Is A Feeling,” released on March 28. “Forever Is A Feeling” centers on love and presents a more subdued sound than her previous work — with fewer intense guitar riffs — yet, the emotional depth of the record is undeniable.
Marking her transition from her previous label, Matador Records, to Geffen Records, a major label, “Forever Is A Feeling” is Dacus’ sweetest and most sentimental album, gently easing from the fiery intensity of her earlier works. This shift takes time to appreciate fully and requires multiple listens to process.
I will admit, I was initially nervous about diving into “Forever Is A Feeling,” especially after reading some negative reviews from outlets such as Pitchfork. After listening, I would say these reactions are merited. As a whole, the album did not meet the high expectations I had for Dacus' intense, devotional songwriting.
Songs in “Forever Is A Feeling” lacked the familiar swells of emotion I usually associate with Dacus’ music, such as the ferocious “Night Shift” (2017). However, while the album feels different from her past work, it is not a negative change. There are still plenty of enjoyable moments — tracks like “Talk,” “For Keeps” and “Come Out” stand out.
“Ankles,” the album’s first single, captures the raw vulnerability of lust with lyrics like “What if we don't touch? / What if we only talk / About what we want and cannot have?” The lyrics ask that instead of being physically close, the only connection between the two people in this relationship is talking about the desires they cannot fulfill. This song is about wanting something out of reach, creating a sense of frustration and emotional distance.
In tracks like “Talk,” a raw and sensitive exploration of an unraveling relationship, Dacus has some great poetic lyrics, like when she questions her lover about their deteriorating relationship: “Why can't we talk anymore? / We used to talk for hours / Do I make you nervous or bored? / Or did I drink you to the last drop?” Dacus’ ability to articulate the unraveling of intimacy with such vulnerability and sharpness is a testament to her skills as a songwriter, transforming personal longing into universal emotions.
In “For Keeps,” Dacus warmly describes her lover: “If the Dеvil’s in the details / Then God is in the gap in your teeth / You are doing the Lord’s work / Every time you smile at me.” In this track, she highlights how imperfections, like a gap between teeth, can be uniquely beautiful, even divine. Furthermore, Dacus imbues her lover’s smile with a sense of spirituality, implying that each small gesture of affection from her lover has a profound impact on her. It is a poetic way of saying that even the simplest, most authentic moments — like a smile — carry extraordinary weight in the context of love.
The third verse of the track “Come Out” showcases the lyricism we have come to expect from Dacus, and it is here that the depth of her affection for Baker truly shines. "I used to think that'd be the worst / To grow old and run out of words / Now I have seen some incredible things / I could never describe if I tried," she sings. Dacus captures a poignant realization about love and connection, reflecting a sense of awe and gratitude for the experiences her and her partner share — moments too profound to put into words.
With “Lost Time,” Dacus takes listeners into her memories as she seeks fresh backdrops for her new relationship: “Not only stolen moments in abandoned halls / Quiet touch in elevators and bathroom stalls.” Yearning for something beyond the secrecy and temporality of past flings, Dacus searches for a place where lovers can share something open and enduring, not just confined to stolen moments. Reflecting on how fleeting connections often feel short-lived, this song is a bittersweet meditation on the struggle between the longing for permanence and the allure of transient intimacy.
Dacus uses “Forever Is A Feeling” as a diary of her evolving relationship with Baker. However, while the pair’s emotional depth is undeniable, Dacus doesn’t provide enough narrative variety to carry the album forward. While the introspective nature of the project is compelling, it leaves little room for the variety and narrative expansion that could help carry the album forward. Though I enjoy the album overall, it's not my favorite of hers. It lacks the sharp lyrical bite and the vigorous guitar-driven energy that typically elevates her work and complements her storytelling.
“Forever Is A Feeling” marks a significant shift in Dacus’ musical journey, showcasing vulnerability in a more subdued, contemplative style. While the album offers some elegant moments, it also highlights artists’ challenging task of exploring new directions without losing the essence of what makes their earlier work so compelling.
Dacus’ focus on her relationship with Baker adds intimacy, but the album’s emotional arc feels too narrow, falling short of the monumental emotional impact of her previous albums “Historian” (2018) and “Home Video” (2021). Despite this, Dacus’ sincerity and artistry continue to shine, and “Forever Is A Feeling” serves as a thoughtful, if imperfect, exploration of love and the passage of time.
Martha Caroline (MC) Powell (she/her) (28C) is an Emory student aspiring to major in something important, but she hasn’t quite figured it out. She’s hoping it comes to her in a dream. Until then, she keeps herself busy with Ben Pius Mock Trial, SAPA, and The Emory Wheel. Any free time is spent reading, pining over Michelle Zauner, journaling and trying her best to be gluten free.
