Big Thief’s debut album Masterpiece, released on May 27, 2016, through Saddle Creek Records, lives up to its title. Described by Jill Mapes of Pitchfork as a collection that “shifts nimbly between lo-fi acoustic and throwback rock hooks,” the album strikes a balance between rawness and melody, blending nostalgia with heartfelt intimacy.
The lyrics sink into emotional themes such as lovesickness, abuse, and mental illness, which offers an avenue to mix the vulnerability of the lyrics with the heartwrenching melodies of the album. Mapes notes that the songs feel like they’ve been “cherry-picked over a lifetime of writing,” with each track telling a carefully constructed story. Masterpiece is an album that beckons listeners drawn to rich songwriting and indie soundscapes, offering a journey well worth taking.
Little Arrow
Old light leaking / Is it, could it, was it dreaming? / Still play that old reel
A hauntingly beautiful opener. It’s quiet, nostalgic, and intimate, setting the stage for the album’s rawness. ★★★★☆
Masterpiece
Old friends, old mothers, dogs and brothers / There’s only so much letting go you can ask someone to do / So I keep you by my side, I will not give you to the tide
The first single of the album, Masterpiece is a powerful, uptempo song about the passing of time, and of lives. The title track bursts with gritty energy and a catchy melody, embodying the album’s blend of rough edges and emotion. ★★★★★
Vegas
Even in the sigh of the headlight sea / Your tears were salty ocean / You opened up the engine and listened to it sing / And I thought you a lamb
With its wistful storytelling and tender instrumentation, this song paints a bittersweet picture of fleeting moments. ★★★★☆
Real Love
Oh mama, oh papa / How much blood is worth the draw?
Dark and brooding, this track explores toxic love and domestic violence with intense and distorted guitar riffs that cut deep. ★★★★★
Interstate
What’s far from here is not so scary / Though you cannot see her
A warm and melancholic road song, its stripped-back arrangement highlights the band’s storytelling. ★★★★☆
Lorraine
Oh, Lorraine on a Saturday morning / Oh, Lorraine with your soft, burning hands
The most upbeat track, about young love and softness, yet it carries an emotional weight with poignant lyrics and an irresistible rhythm. ★★★★☆
Paul
I’ll be your morning bright goodnight shadow machine / I’ll be your record player, baby, if you know what I mean
A song about rural Americana and memories. A standout track that is tender, devastating, and relatable in its portrayal of heartbreak. ★★★★★
Humans
Humans in the honest light / Love is a cold infection alright / Why in the morn of one bad night / Do I fight your touch like a fever
Chaotic yet captivating, this song layers raw vocals and crashing guitars, capturing the messiness of existence. ★★★★☆
Velvet Ring
He loved her like he loved no one / The way she laughed and held a smoking gun / The way she always said, “What’s done is done.”
The most well-known song of the album, about a struggling couple going through rocky waters. Delicate and ethereal, this acoustic track feels like a quiet confession whispered in your ear. ★★★★☆
Animals
She always knew / She’ll always know / That I loved her oh so well, but I need to go
Edgy and unflinching with a haunting and repetitive melody, its rawness and intensity make it a visceral experience. The song uses animal imagery to illustrate raw emotions and instincts, suggesting that beneath our civilized exteriors, there are deep, instinctual desires and fears. ★★★★☆
Randy
And all those lovers in their velvet gowns / I wanna take that trip uptown / Will you tell them to let me out / When you can see the light is on?
Randy is about a woman’s deteriorating mental health and her longing for the titular character to be there for her. A nostalgic, reflective track with a simple yet compelling melody that lingers. ★★★★☆
Parallels
I see all parallels, I see all parallels / I see all parallels, I see all parallels
A perfect closer, this song is meditative and expansive, bringing this graceful album to a graceful conclusion. ★★★★★
Album as a whole: 4.5 hooves
