Review
'How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?' draws us into the delicate emotional landscape that Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon have mastered in their Big Red Machine collaboration. The 2021 sophomore effort pulls at threads of childhood memories, lost innocence, and nostalgic yearning, creating songs that feel like conversations with old friends around a flickering campfire. The duo expanded their creative circle this time around, inviting a chorus of distinctive voices—Taylor Swift's intimate storytelling, Sharon Van Etten's soulful warmth, and the harmonic touch of Fleet Foxes—each adding their own colors to this musical conversation.
The collaborative spirit defines this album, yet it never feels disjointed or scattered. 'Latter Days' stands as a perfect example of how these various voices come together to create something greater than their individual parts. Vernon and Dessner serve as thoughtful conductors, guiding this ensemble through emotional territories that feel deeply authentic and lived-in. What emerges is a collection of songs that capture those fleeting moments of clarity we experience throughout life—sometimes joyful, sometimes heartbreaking, but always honest. This album reveals itself slowly, each listen uncovering new emotional depths beneath its gentle folk arrangements and careful production. - Aria
