ALBUM OF THE WEEK
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT’S GONNA LAST? BIG RED MACHINE
★★★★★ The second full-length release by The National’s Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is an exquisite work combining big- hearted songwriting with deep emotion.
It’s a study in regret, nostalgia for childhood, lost innocence and optimism about the future.
On Brycie, Dessner pays tribute to his twin brother, who guided him through depressive bouts at school, while on Hutch (featuring Sharon Van Etten, Lisa Hannigan and Shara Nova) he struggles with the death of his friend, Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison, who took his own life in 2018.
Taylor Swift also appears on two tracks, including the yearning single Renegade, which addresses the anxiety of co-dependent love.
Mostly, however, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? is a tribute to friends and family, and the joy of making music alongside them.