The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream

Lost in the Dream may eventually turn out to be the point where The War on Drugs escape references to former member and slacker poster-boy Kurt Vile. While hazy, spaced out Americana remains the link, Adam Granduciel’s band have placed classic seventies tendencies ahead of stoner chic.

Building rather nicely on the stomp of 2011 breakthrough Slave Ambient, confident Springsteen-esque rallying calls are added to the likes of Red Eyes, nestling comfortably alongside the feeling that New Jersey’s most famous son would rather enjoy this.

Elsewhere, Under the Pressure and Disappearing echo some of Lindsay Buckingham’s finest guitar work and at times you could close your eyes and hear Granduciel’s voice practically become Paul Simon’s. But despite such references, the listener is constantly reminded that this is an expansive modern rock record, stuffed with big hooks and a crisp production. Improbably, in 2014 the Philadelphians are carving out a niche all of their own. [Stu Lewis]