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April 17, 2025
Lucy Dacus, known for her “sad gay girl” music with devastating lyrics and solemn storytelling, switched gears completely in style with the release of her fourth album, “Forever Is a Feeling,” on March 28, 2025. The album consists of 13 tracks, all containing immense amounts of romantic feeling, which is very new for Dacus’ discography, as most of her previous albums include songs that make you feel heartbroken, even if you were in a good mood before listening. From the moment you press play on the album, you are welcomed with an introduction for the absolute rollercoaster of emotions you are getting yourself into through the play off of the violin in “Calliope Prelude” moving into the transition to “Big Deal.”
Before the release of “Forever Is a Feeling,” in 2023-2024 Dacus had been touring with Phoebe Bridgers, along with Dacus’ current girlfriend, Julien Baker, for their band Boygenius. Dacus’ past albums emphasized the tragic relationships and homoerotic friendships she had been in, while this new album brings in this newfound feeling of love and acceptance of the things around her. “Home Video,” Dacus’ previous album released on June 25, 2021, had songs such as “Christine” and “Please Stay,” which emphasized longing for someone while balancing the abandonment of her partners. While her new album also has this similar style in the song “Limerence,” the rest of the album is light and flirty.
Lucy Dacus’ “Forever is a Feeling” album cover. Painted by Will St. John.
Lucy Dacus in her “Ankles” music video. Directed by M. Amberson.
Track three, “Ankles,” is the perfect representation of the album’s essential theme - sweetness and adornment for her partner, Julien Baker. The song was released on Jan. 15, 2025 as a precursor to the full album release, along with “Limerence” and “Best Guess.” “Ankles” starts off low and soft with the lyrics, “What if we don’t touch / what if we only talk / about what we want / and cannot have,” bringing in that element of longing for someone that Dacus’ music is known for. Seeing this version of Dacus that’s in love rather than heartbroken over something once again feels like a breath of fresh air to be able to see her in this new light. Even if you aren’t in love or liking someone in a romantic way, the song is so sweet that you feel it within.
Track four, “Limerence,” is one of the most well written songs on the album, and almost one of the best in Dacus’ discography. The piano that plays you in sends you right back to Dacus’ ability to make you feel each and every emotion within her music. The lyrics within the song evokes this feeling of being trapped in a box, yearning for something more with someone you are interested in, and might even be Dacus’ most well written song. “If I stay busy / maybe I’ll forget how I feel and go on living life as I planned it,” showcases Dacus’ attempt to run away from this feeling of wanting more, attempting to run away as fast as she can from her true feelings about someone, and maybe could even be about Baker. “I want what we have / A beautiful life / but the stillness / the stillness might eat me alive” recreates each and every emotion you would feel when trying to push down your emotions about someone.
Track seven, “For Keeps,” is extremely reminiscent of “Going Going Gone” from Dacus’ previous album, “Home Video.” The soft acoustic guitar plays you into the song, while not as flirty and fun as ankles - the songs are extremely intimate and sentimental. The lyrics, “If the devils in the details / then God is in the gap in your teeth,” remind us of Dacus’ astonishing symbolism that she inscripts into her lyrics. The lyric ties in this play on words, “God is in the gap in your teeth,” usually relating to people believing in God because of things they can’t explain. But in the context of the song, it brings in this idea of whenever the person she’s talking about smiles (probably Baker), it makes her feel better immediately. The lyrics, “Cause I know we’re not playing for keeps,” show Dacus’ acknowledgment of the fact that she and her partner aren’t staying together permanently. How Dacus discovers ways to come out with lyrics that perfectly encapsulate the emotions for the situations she's in is beyond comprehension.
Dacus resembles her previous music with Boygenius on track 12, “Most Wanted Man,” with the electric guitar and more rock-like sound that the band is known for in their songs. Dacus goes back to that sweet essence that she has centered the album around in the lyrics, “Time to write the book on you.” While pumping up the album to more upbeat tracks, she still stays within the album's nature of tenderness. Dacus is absolutely mind blowing when it comes to expressing her exact thoughts and feelings to the listeners of her music. The whole album seems to be centered around her partner, and it’s new to see Dacus move away from her low and slow songs from her past albums, now bringing in this new sound of lust, even if it doesn’t last forever.
Lucy Dacus and the cast in her music video “Best Guess.” Directed by Jane Schoenbrun
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