How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?
Big Red Machine · 2021
64 min · 15 tracks
An atmospheric blend of indie folk and electronic textures, evoking introspective moods and rich emotional landscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Renegade — Featuring Taylor Swift, this track stands out for its poignant exploration of self-doubt and vulnerability, showcasing the collaborative spirit that defines the album.
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Phoenix — The song melds intricate instrumentation with layered harmonies, revealing a sense of rebirth that encapsulates the overarching themes of growth found throughout the record.
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Birch — With its haunting melodies and reflective lyrics, this track captures the essence of longing and connection, serving as a centerpiece for the album’s emotional depth.
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Mimi — This shorter piece stands out for its intimate storytelling and delicate arrangement, representing the raw vulnerability present in the album’s narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends genres effectively, showcasing strong craftsmanship but with some uneven pacing in the latter half.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies that create a rich, atmospheric sound, particularly in 'Reese' and 'Birch'.
- The album frequently employs ambient soundscapes that ebb and flow, with moments of silence that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing with emotional peaks
- introspective moments for reflection
- headphone detail hunting experience
- balanced journey across diverse moods
- for quiet afternoon listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party tracks
- prefer short standalone songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? is Big Red Machine's second album, arriving four years after their self-titled debut. The project showcases a deeper collaboration between Aaron Dessner of The National and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, reflecting their artistic growth and evolving partnership in the indie music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bon Iver· Sufjan Stevens· The National
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hoping Then
A moment shifts from uncertainty to a hopeful declaration about the future, marking a turning point in emotional tone.
This transition emphasizes resilience amidst challenges, providing a contrast to earlier moments of doubt throughout the album.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Latter Days 3:38
- 2 Reese 5:12
- 3 Phoenix 4:15
- 4 Birch 5:30
- 5 Renegade 4:14
- 6 The Ghost of Cincinnati 3:37
- 7 Hoping Then 3:57
- 8 Mimi 2:59
- 9 Easy to Sabotage 5:50
- 10 Hutch 3:55
- 11 8:22am 4:24
- 12 Magnolia 3:55
- 13 June’s a River 4:27
- 14 Brycie 5:13
- 15 New Auburn 3:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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