Big Thief Makes Big Distinguished Melodic Folk On ‘Capacity’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Capacity, Big Thief’s follow up to last year’s critically acclaimed debut Masterpiece, is an indie folk gem that builds upon the themes and successes of the band’s previous work. It is moody, melodic folk that pays as much attention to storytelling as to song structure and rhythms.

Many of the songs deal with the real-life experiences of singer-guitarist Adrianne Lenker, who nearly died in a freak accident at age five, grew up in the aftermath of her parents leaving a cult, and spent part of her formative years living out of a van.

Lead single “Mythological Beauty” tells the story of Lenker’s childhood accident through the eyes of her worried mother. “You held me in the backseat with a dishrag/ soaking up blood with your eye/ I was just 5 and you were 27 praying ‘don’t let my baby die,’” Lenker sings, her voice soft and haunting. The song is not so much about the trauma of the incident as about empathizing with a young mother doing her best to raise her children in a difficult situation. “There is a child inside you who’s trying to raise a child in me,” she sings.

Lenker’s voice, though nearly whispered, is dynamic within her soft range, weaving intricate vocal melodies around Buck Meek’s guitar and adding extra rhythm to James Krivchenia’s drum beats.

“Pretty Things” is one of Capacity’s softest tracks, but it thrives on Kenker’s vocal cadence, her voice flowing in a jerky rhythm that adds tension to the song’s slow fingerpicked guitars. That tension serves the song well, which disturbingly juxtaposes a lover’s violent aggression with the narrator’s vulnerable tenderness. “These things that lonely ones do/ baby, that’s what I’m here for/ I’ll take care and make all your wishes come true,” she sings. The song coyly delves into the complexities of a relationship dynamic as well as of masculinity and femininity themselves, without giving clear answers to the questions raised. “There is a meeting in my thighs/ where in thunder and lightning/ men are baptized in their anger and fighting/ their deceit and lies.”

Though mostly a soft folk album, Meek’s occasional distorted guitar adds more intensity to the sound, particularly in “Shark Smile” and the upbeat “Watering,” one of the album’s finest moments. In “Black Diamonds,” Lenker sings of a reluctance to take a step forward into a serious relationship. “I wake up in a cold sweat on your ceiling, terrified of what your love’s revealing,” she sings over jangling guitars.

With its intricately crafted melodies, Lenker’s evocative voice, and empathetic lyrics, Capacity is a folk rock statement that deeply resonates with each melody and story. Whether the song is soft and slow or more vibrant and upbeat, Capacity draws the listener into nuanced tales of some of life’s most difficult situations in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

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