“Two Hands” by Big Thief

By Erin Wilson

 Big Thief returned with a new album titled “Two Hands” on October 11, bringing a folk twist to their indie rock sound. The album steps slightly away from the softer indie of their last album “U.F.O.F.” with more intense rock additions to some of their songs, but the new sound is difficult to place. Most of the tracks fuse into one angsty, melancholy song. 

Lead vocalist Adrianne Lenker’s breezy, high-pitched voice is temporarily enjoyable with the soft and simple rock throughout “Shoulders” and “Replaced.” Cushiony, relaxed music paired with Lenker’s crooning trills is Big Thief’s typical sound, but this causes the album to sound like one 39-minute song, which tires quickly and is somewhat boring. 

The album’s first song, “Rock and Sing,” is simple, with a melody that sounds almost like a nursery rhyme. It’s sleepy and melancholy, fitting its title. The album wakes up with its second song, “Forgotten Eyes.” It’s carried by an upbeat acoustic guitar and a more contented tone, contrasting with the gloomy lyrics.

The one unexpected surprise on the album came with “Not,” which begins at a lower note and more intensely than other tracks, gradually building and exploding into an aggressive and cacophonous mess of different instruments. It was almost painful to listen to. Perhaps this is why the band placed “Wolf” right after it, a song that starts out soothing but features odd and whiny howls, presumably meant to resemble wolves. 

“Two Hands,” with its lively and colorful melody, feels like a tune to listen to while driving on a sunny autumn day. It’s easily the best track, which is perhaps why it is the title track. 

Overall, “Two Hands” felt rather unexciting, sticking to one sound that wears out after the first song.