A Deeper Understanding, the fourth album from The War on Drugs, builds on their heartland rock/shoegaze hybrid sounds showcased on their prior albums, namely 2014’s Lost In The Dream. This time around, they offer plenty of sprawling, pristinely produced tracks that highlight dense instrumentals. While many tracks on this are patient, some of the more immediately rewarding cuts stand out on first listens. (“Up All Night”, “Holding On”, “Nothing to Find”) Fantastic guitar solos shine on tracks like “Pain” and “Strangest Thing,” and the 11 minute “Thinking of a Place.” What you end up with is a dreamy, Springsteen tinged album with incredibly lush production.
-Stan Standridge