Just Some Linear Perception

Big Thief “Spud Infinity”

Big Thief is a band that has always thrived in capturing a live sound on record. “Spud Infinity” arrives at a point in the group’s trajectory where the sophistication of their songwriting and the casual chemistry of the band members have intersected so that the composition sounds as though it’s magically manifesting in real time. It’s an illusion of spontaneity, sure, but their playing is breezy and loose enough that the ease of it all isn’t the lie. “Spud Infinity” sounds like the band started from the notion of taking the term “cosmic country music” very literally, and writing a country rock song pondering philosophical matters like “what’s it gonna take to free the celestial body?” Adrianne Lenker’s voice and lyrics are playful and thoughtful, grounding questions about one’s significance in the greater scheme of things in colloquialisms and quirky metaphors while soberly advising anyone listening to throw themselves into the moment and express their love plainly to anyone they care about. She’s considering everything that can possibly be on the grandest possible scale, but arriving at the conclusion that what matters most is what’s immediately in front of us.

Buy it from Bandcamp.