Masterpiece may be flawed, but try to think of a magnum opus, or a life, that isn't. The most exciting part is that it's likely Big Thief's best is yet to come.
What makes Masterpiece such an engrossing listen is how they regulate the songs to their bare essentials even when they’re at their most dynamic. Big Thief is a band that understands that there’s much to explore within life’s empty spaces, to never underestimate what’s not readily there and occupy it with grand, though modest, gestures.
On the rangy folk-rock band Big Thief's Saddle Creek debut Masterpiece, the songs sound cherry-picked over a lifetime of writing, the stories carefully compiled.
The indie rock genre is blessed with presence of power quartet Big Thief. And what a blessing it is. The leader singer’s voice, while not what I would call strong, is most certainly beautiful. In fact, I would say it benefits from this lack of sturdiness. The little quivers and shakes on certain notes give it this quality that feels uniquely hers. I’ve never heard anything quite like it. The instruments are gorgeous; the guitars in particular steal the show. And the songwriting, ... read more
1 | Little Arrow 1:58 | 76 |
2 | Masterpiece 3:50 | 98 |
3 | Vegas 2:19 | 89 |
4 | Real Love 4:17 | 92 |
5 | Interstate 3:24 | 90 |
6 | Lorraine 1:53 | 79 |
7 | Paul 3:03 | 90 |
8 | Humans 3:23 | 89 |
9 | Velvet Ring 2:35 | 85 |
10 | Animals 2:59 | 85 |
11 | Randy 3:09 | 77 |
12 | Parallels 4:23 | 91 |
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