The War On Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore

I have been a fan of The War On Drugs (TWOD) since 2014’s Lost in the Dream. I loved its narcotic psychedelic ambiance, yet 80s vibe. It was bathed in synths, hot guitar licks, pop-rock melodies, and dreamy vocals. They didn’t miss a beat on 2017’s A Deeper Understanding. I assumed TWOD was a studio concoction, but 2020’s Live Drugs showed they could rock it live. With I Don’t Live Here Anymore they continue to be on a roll. It is so rare when a band/artist can pump out three great studio albums in a row – TWOD have done it!

If you are not familiar with TWOD, the best way I can describe them is contemporary 80s classic rock. I hear many influences: R.E.M., late era Pink Floyd (sans Roger Waters), 80s Dylan, Tunnel Of Love era Springsteen, Dire Straits, etc. The music is highly layered keyboards and guitars on a solid toe-tapping rhythm section. It is great headphone music.

The new album is sonically similarly to their last two, but I would say the craft is a bit more polished and pop. Not in a bad way – their evolution is similar to R.E.M.’s who similarly evolved to a more polished and pop sound without artistic compromise. It does not feel contrived or reaching for the fences – just a confident embrace of their success.

The opening track, “Living Proof” is disarming – a new sound for TWOD. It is sparse and unadorned (by TWOD standards). But the album returns to traditional lush TWOD form after that.

If you liked the last two TWOD albums, you will like this one. If you are new to the band, this is a great starting point.