Lucy Dacus released her highly anticipated fourth studio album “Forever is a Feeling” on March 28. It debuted at number one on weekly U.S. Spotify charts and received praise from critics and fans alike. Dacus was the first member of indie rock supergroup boygenius to release a solo project since the release of their highly successful first album, “the record” in March 2023.
“Forever is a Feeling” features 13 tracks that tackle overwhelming emotions with tender melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Dacus told NPR, “I was writing the songs, and I noticed that they were very heartfelt. They’re love songs, mostly.”
The album’s aesthetic and musical choices connect to the antiquity period. The cover art features Lucy Dacus posing in a Victorian-style painting, wearing a yellow-gold robe and surrounded by a gold frame. “Forever is a Feeling” also features a harp and string instruments, aptly suiting the period.
“Forever is a Feeling” opens with the flowing, instrumental “Calliope’s Prelude,” a quiet string arrangement that gradually builds up throughout its runtime. It then transitions seamlessly to “Big Deal,” a tender song about caring for someone but knowing the relationship cannot work.
The first lead single for the record, “Ankles” is a dreamy song about love and desire. All of the instruments work cohesively to complement Dacus’s rich vocals. “Ankles” expresses the all-encompassing nature of love while fighting the fact that it ultimately is impossible. The song conveys a craving for physical intimacy, as expressed in the lyrics, “let me touch you where I want to,” as well as for intimate moments, as seen in the lines, “then help me with the crosswords in the morning.” In an interview with NPR, Dacus describes “Ankles,” stating, “it’s kind of this playful frustration and just like the tension of wanting somebody. It’s more lusty than I generally am.”
On the indie rock standout “Most Wanted Man,” Dacus sings about her girlfriend and bandmate, Julien Baker, referring to her as “the most wanted man in West Tennessee.” Dacus recently confirmed their relationship via an interview with People Magazine that had been long speculated about by fans. “Most Wanted Man” is a fast-paced and upbeat track, encapsulating the feeling of new love. Dacus sings, “I just wanna make you happy / will you let me spend a lifetime trying?” Baker then joins her with harmonizing vocals. “Most Wanted Man” is one of the faster songs on “Forever is a Feeling,” prominently featuring bold electric guitar and synthesizers.
In addition to Baker, boygenius bandmate Phoebe Bridgers and Hozier join Dacus on the record. Bridgers sings on “Modigliani,” a song inspired by the art of Amedeo Modigliani. Dacus sings about missing Bridgers, her close friend, when she is away. She sings, “Modigliani melancholy got me long in the face / But I feel better when you call / Just to tell me how you are.” On “Bullseye,” a vulnerable song about a past relationship, Hozier accompanies Dacus. “Bullseye” employs imagery and the metaphor of a target to explore the realizations and nostalgia associated with past connections. Hozier’s soulful voice adds another perspective to the reflective ballad about love.
Dacus looks to the future on “Best Guess,” a song about embracing uncertainty and change. She sings about her hopes to stay with her partner forever and is willing to bet on it. She sings, “You were my best friend before you were / My best guess at the future,” a clear reference to her strong friendship with Julien Baker before their relationship. Dacus emphasizes the value of being friends before a relationship, stating, “I don’t know what romance is without friendship” (Variety).
In an interview with The New Yorker, Dacus describes a theme of the album as “coming to terms with change—of knowing that things aren’t forever.” Title track “Forever is a Feeling,” closing track “Lost Time” and “For Keeps” are about time and treasuring finite moments. “Forever is a Feeling” describes the magic of knowing moments are temporary, making them all the more precious. On “Lost Time,” Dacus mourns time spent with her loved one when she did not express her true feelings. “For Keeps” is a soft, slow, sad song about knowing a relationship will not last forever.
Dacus showcases her songwriting genius on “Limerence,” a complex and reflective ballad that delves into inner emotional conflict. Gentle piano and violin create an ethereal sound that serves as the backdrop for the slow ballad. Dacus employs imagery to establish a casual scene, and then contrasts it with intense emotional turmoil.
Lucy Dacus’s “Forever is a Feeling” explores her current emotions while looking to the future. She admits, “these feelings, I’m just in the middle of them. I have no perspective. I’m reporting from the ground. I don’t know if I’m being wise or if I’ll eat my words in a couple years, but I feel proud of it as it stands.”
