'Forever is a Feeling': Lucy Dacus' Fourth Studio Album Is A Masterpiece

Featured Image Credits: Lucy Dacus for the New Yorker

January 15th 2025 ushered in the day many of us had anxiously awaited for almost a year. Since boygenius announced they’d been taking a break from performing for an indefinite amount of time in February 2024 fans have been holding their breath for new music from each of the trio members. Julien Baker blessed us first, appearing on a single with Thomas Powers in May of 2024, followed by Lucy Dacus gracing us with the first two singles from 'Forever is a Feeling,'earlier in January of this year, ‘Ankles,’ and ‘Limerence’. Fast forward to April 2025 and we have the album in its entirety. 

‘Forever is a Feeling’ weaves elements of classical music into Dacus’ typical alternative-indie sound, with Dacus herself referencing ‘antiquity’ as a key influence for the album's epic sonic frame. 

‘Calliope Prelude’ opens the album with high, fleeting strings, prepping listeners for the leading role the instrument will play on the remainder of the album.

Next is ‘Big Deal,’ an emotional track about a confession of love and a realisation of substantial feelings. Acoustic guitar, snare drums, and ethereal synths are scattered throughout the song, building a vibrant soundscape and amplifying Dacus’ vulnerable lyricism.

Dacus’ signature alto delivery opens 'Ankles', accompanied solely by strings for the first verse. By the pre-chorus, the drums kick in like a heartbeat, and then for the chorus, the track is filled out with claps and twinkly guitars which threaten to bubble up and overwhelm Dacus, just like the feelings she sings of.

‘Limerence’ is named after the term coined by Dorothy Tennov, an American psychologist. The term describes obsessive infatuation typically coupled with intrusive thoughts or delusions. Lush piano accompanies swooning strings as Dacus lilts overtop throughout. It’s a sadly wistful ballad, a style which perfectly fits Dacus.

The title of ‘Modigliani’ references the modernist Italian painter, Amedeo Clemente Modigliani. His work was not hugely popular during his contemporary period but rather garnered appreciation after his death. During his youth he studied antiquity, making him a particularly fitting reference for ‘Forever is a Feeling.’ boygenius fans will quickly recognise a familiar voice on this one as Phoebe Bridgers features on the track with Dacus. It’s about missing your best friend; needing to talk to them but not being able to because of distance. I feel you, Lucy… Like most of the tracks on this album, strings and piano make up most of the instrumental, as well as lightly strummed guitar and a fretless bass.

The sixth track on the album, ‘Talk’ was released as the final single in mid-March before the album’s release. It has a darker sound than the other singles, leaning heavily into alternative rock/dream pop. Shoegaze influences are apparent on this one interjected with pauses of pure silence, making the angsty guitar hit all that harder when Lucy breathes the track back into motion. Coupled with industrial distorted drums, ‘Talk’ is a certified banger. 

‘For Keeps’ slows things right down, and switches up the alternative influencers from the previous track to an acoustic, folk sound. Just Dacus and her acoustic guitar.

Then we’re onto the title track, ‘Forever is a Feeling.’ Not only do we hear Bridgers, but also Baker, completing the boygenius trifecta. The instrumental features a piano, continuing the theme of antiquity, along with some indie-pop guitars and building synths.

The next track is ‘Come Out,’ a folk-influenced, acoustic guitar waltz. The instrumental also features a harp, a celesta, and drums, transforming this track into a celestial experience.

‘Best Guess’ is another track that was initially released as a single. It’s a soft-rock track that features Dacus on a celesta to punctuate the electric guitars with some lightness.

‘Bullseye’ features Hozier, as well as some of the most vulnerable lyrics on the album with Dacus and Hozier’s voices blending beautifully over the top of Dacus’ acoustic guitar, while synths create an element of ambience alongside the folksy components. 

The penultimate track, ‘Most Wanted Man’ featuring Baker displays some classic rock influences, centring electric guitars within the instrumentation, which rise to a climax for the beginning of the bridge, before being stripped back down for the song’s outro.

‘Lost Time’ slows things down for the close of the album, reintroducing ambient synths, a brushed snare, and an acoustic guitar while also exhibiting a mandolin. The pay-off at the bridge as the lighter tone of the track builds into heavy electric guitars is immense. Before the song closes, however, we’re back to just Dacus and her guitar, finishing the album off with an intimate moment between the listener and Dacus.

On the whole, ‘Forever is Feeling’ is Dacus’ most ambitious yet cohesive piece of work to date. As a prelude to the album’s release, Dacus embarked on a tour consisting of a handful of museum venues, prepping listeners for the aspects of antiquity it parades. The album art is a hyper-realistic oil portrait of Dacus swathed in gold. Just like the artwork the album is detailed, rich and expansive. ‘Forever is a Feeling’ is by far my favourite release of this year yet, Dacus has truly knocked it out of the park.