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The War on Drugs — Strangest Thing
Album: A Deeper Understanding
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3152









Released: 2017
Length: 6:33
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Summer ride on the beach
Howl at the day
I've been hiding out so long
I gotta find another way

Late at night I wanna see you
Well my eyes, they begin to fade
Am I just living in the space between
The beauty and the pain?
And the real thing

Now the sky is painted
In a wash of indigo
I've been holding on too long
That I hardly know the score

I recognize every face
But I ain't got everything I need
If I'm just living in the space between
The beauty and the pain
It's the strangest thing

Yeah, she runs surrounding me
Surrounded by the whole
Surrounded by no other
I wanna ride it home

Yeah, like a rolling stone
Don't roll again
Yeah, like a rolling stone
Don't you roll again
I wanna roll, I wanna roll
Comments (120)add comment
Quickly becoming one of my most played bands.
Definitely has a late 80,s Mister Mister sort of vibe to me.  
 alexandersmcmillan wrote:

Adam Granduciel apparently bought a vintage Gibson SG that simply roared. I think it's put to very good use on this track. Cranking the volume of the guitar solo always gives me chills. He might not be the most technically proficient player, but he sure knows how to manipulate all of his equipment to create something that sits beautifully in each song. I love this band!



This band has a great wall-of-sound! I've seen them twice, and that's not enough. Discovered them right here on the best station that ever existed.
Epic. 
Up one to a 10 today.
This is glorious stuff.  I particularly like how, when everything ramps up, the drums keep going just as before. 
 cosmiclint wrote:

This is edging in to nine territory



I'm at 10
The vocals sound almost like Bob Dylan to me.
I keep thinking this is Bryan Adams, I keep having to come back to check the band name.
A grower not a shower. Upping to a 9!
 svfoster wrote:

Bad segue from miles Davis.



yes. and it's super dull and way too long.
Bad segue from miles Davis.
Bought this on vinyl after hearing it only on RP. Beautiful album all round.
Few years ago I was a volunteer at a music festival, and knew that WAD was playing that evening, however, had no idea how the band looked like.  There was a group of particularly nice and humble musicians who called me a sunshine after I served them some soft drinks .. only to recognize the same people on stage. Oh, nostalgia. 
 alexandersmcmillan wrote:

Adam Granduciel apparently bought a vintage Gibson SG that simply roared. I think it's put to very good use on this track. Cranking the volume of the guitar solo always gives me chills. He might not be the must technically-proficient player, but he sure knows how to manipulate all of his equipment to create something that sits beautifully in each song. I love this band!




My SG never sounded like this. I must have gotten a dud... ;-)
I feel their music is very pensive and too much of it is oppressive but i like that shit. THE WAR ON DRUGS is a band i can relate to at this age. 
This is mammoth.
Roxy Music
just whow 
 Stetsonman wrote:


i think you need to find out the meaning of "entice" before using it





this is full of recondite information
 bialia wrote:

We need to be able to mute/block people. Exhibit A:




We need to speak more freely and not less.

That's what a forum is meant to be about. Otherwise, we're just talking only to fellow Pink Floyd fans, or whoever our favourite band is. It defeats the purpose of having a conversation here about Radio Paradise. 

Well, there is also the PSE button, since you're probably not paying for RP. And so, you probably shouldn't be demanding new features that cost money... 
We need to be able to mute/block people. Exhibit A:

Stetsonman wrote:

if i ever get constipated i know i will be able to listen to this instead of reaching for the laxatives because it sure does bore the shit out of me.

fucking pointless shit band



 alexandersmcmillan wrote:

Adam Granduciel apparently bought a vintage Gibson SG that simply roared. I think it's put to very good use on this track. Cranking the volume of the guitar solo always gives me chills. He might not be the must technically-proficient player, but he sure knows how to manipulate all of his equipment to create something that sits beautifully in each song. I love this band!



I was getting ready to post something about how they love to let loose without much subtlety but your post is much more eloquent and insightful.
if i ever get constipated i know i will be able to listen to this instead of reaching for the laxatives because it sure does bore the shit out of me.

fucking pointless shit band
I really wanted to get motivated to start my workday, but then Bill plays this.
(I'm not complaining btw)
These guys are great at creating atmosphere.  You can really feel it in this song.
 ziakut wrote:


...and yet you still manage to entice us with your exquisite comments of true erudition!


i think you need to find out the meaning of "entice" before using it
 Stetsonman wrote:

Fucking hell, this band is so lame



...and yet you still manage to entice us with your exquisite comments of true erudition!
 alexandersmcmillan wrote:

Adam Granduciel apparently bought a vintage Gibson SG that simply roared. I think it's put to very good use on this track. Cranking the volume of the guitar solo always gives me chills. He might not be the must technically-proficient player, but he sure knows how to manipulate all of his equipment to create something that sits beautifully in each song. I love this band!



Thanks for sharing! That's so cool you're in touch with deeper layers to this music. Makes me wonder what else is beneath the surface of songs I adore.
me encanta esta canciĆ³n, una de las mejores de la programaciĆ³n. Felicitaciones
 scrubbrush wrote:

who says rock n' roll is dead?



I would say this is more of a ballad or an anthem than rock and roll...not every song with a wailing guitar is rock and roll. Chuck Berry is R&R...it's gotta have that beat doesn't it?  This is great but, not R&R
Fucking hell, this band is so lame
TWOD.  10.  my favorite current band.
Man, this song is so incredibly powerfully beautiful and haunting I swear next time it plays on RP I'm not gonna run the blender at 11 at the same time. 
 bahalana wrote:


I gave your mom a 1


probably after you poked your old man up the arse
worst band ever, worse than Coldplay
I feel thunders
 Stetsonman wrote:


this shit is lucky to get a 1



Just wow. I wonder what qualifies as good music according to your metric.
They really do create an all-encompassing soundscape within each song. and sustain it, in such splendid, ringing symphonic expression!
 Stetsonman wrote:


this shit is lucky to get a 1


I gave your mom a 1
 Grayson wrote:

Anyone else want to move theirs to a 10? I'll go first. 



this shit is lucky to get a 1
 Grayson wrote:
Anyone else want to move theirs to a 10? I'll go first.
 
My general rule-of-thumb is that a song has to be around a bit longer before attaining Godlike status but this one will get there eventually.
 Grayson wrote:

Anyone else want to move theirs to a 10? I'll go first. 



I started out at a 9 for this one, it's been a 10 for me for quite some time now. I really like their live album also, I hope someone sends Bill a copy...
 Grayson wrote:

Anyone else want to move theirs to a 10? I'll go first. 




I Just moved it from a 6 to a 7 but i Started at a 5 so maybe one time I'll go with you. :-)
Anyone else want to move theirs to a 10? I'll go first. 
Took a while to get going, but I'm so glad I didn't click 'Skip' like I initially wanted to! Lovely.
During the day, this album is great, in the evening, it's amazing!
 Stetsonman wrote:

Sheesh this band suck


Try not to speak.
 dray2009 wrote:

This is excellent. What's the entire album like?



I may have heard WOD on RP first (?).  Album is absolutely incredible.  At some point I will move it to a 10...I'm getting there...and although the album is already there, this old dog is slow to move things to "10s" these days!
This is excellent. What's the entire album like?
 garyclark663 wrote:

Yup ... or through the sequoias at sunset.

 
Oddly, I just had the thought that it's time to visit the Bitterroots. Why? Somehow this piece of music has the power to evoke the desire to get out into the world that has been restricted for the past year. I have never been there.
 eyeyeye wrote:
This makes me wanna get in a camper van and for ever drive along the coastline...
 
Yup ... or through the sequoias at sunset.

 scrubbrush wrote:
who says rock n' roll is dead?
 

They do!
 tinypriest wrote:
Honestly, mostly boring. If you'd put a voice like Whitney Houston's to it, maybe it would be a hit for the emotional energy she could put into the 5-note MOR'ness of it. Otherwise, it's a little nothing, disguised as alternative rock with gravelly guitar for the forced gravitas. Solid 4, lol.
 
Condolences for your cluelessness.   
 Grayson wrote:

I know, right?! This is such a soaring, achingly beautiful song I'm tempted into rarefied 10 space. 
 I think it's achingly noisy.

Gotta love these guys. Such a fresh breeze of inspired creativity. Lifts the soul.
Just read their old label was "Secretly Canadian". That's hilarious!
 eyeyeye wrote:
This makes me wanna get in a camper van and for ever drive along the coastline...
 
If only we could . . .
Sheesh this band suck
The Whitney Houston comment feels like trolling.
Yawn.
 tinypriest wrote:
Honestly, mostly boring. If you'd put a voice like Whitney Houston's to it, maybe it would be a hit for the emotional energy she could put into the 5-note MOR'ness of it. Otherwise, it's a little nothing, disguised as alternative rock with gravelly guitar for the forced gravitas. Solid 4, lol.
 

I personally find this piece haunting. I find Whitney Houston sad. I find your observations irrelevant.
There's a lot to love about these guys.  This tune in particular is nothing short of majestic.

Many thanks to RP for the intro. 
Thank you RP for introducing me to "The War on Drugs". Great find!!!
 cosmiclint wrote:
This is edging in to nine territory
 
I know, right?! This is such a soaring, achingly beautiful song I'm tempted into rarefied 10 space. 
This is edging in to nine territory
who says rock n' roll is dead?
 tinypriest wrote:
Honestly, mostly boring. If you'd put a voice like Whitney Houston's to it, maybe it would be a hit for the emotional energy she could put into the 5-note MOR'ness of it. Otherwise, it's a little nothing, disguised as alternative rock with gravelly guitar for the forced gravitas. Solid 4, lol.
 
Any chance of this being  a substantive critique,  and frankly the chance was minimal, was lost with the Whitney Houston suggestion. 
Honestly, mostly boring. If you'd put a voice like Whitney Houston's to it, maybe it would be a hit for the emotional energy she could put into the 5-note MOR'ness of it. Otherwise, it's a little nothing, disguised as alternative rock with gravelly guitar for the forced gravitas. Solid 4, lol.
RP introduced me to War on Drugs and a lot of great music. Reminded me to pay my tab.  Thanks Bill and Rebecca.  
A new favorite band for me. 
The thing about The War on Drugs is that all their songs sound like the same song. Fortunately for them, it's a good song!
 alexandersmcmillan wrote:
Adam Granduciel apparently bought a vintage Gibson SG that simply roared. I think it's put to very good use on this track. Cranking the volume of the guitar solo always gives me chills. He might not be the must technically-proficient player, but he sure knows how to manipulate all of his equipment to create something that sits beautifully in each song. I love this band!
 well said

So good to hear that near christmas
Wonderful song, i give a 10
 123heyaho! wrote:
Masters of boredom.
 
Well I guess you had better just stick with listening to your favourite death metal band.
 drwhy wrote:
Very talented band, and one of the best to come around in a long time.  Cant wait to see what else they put out.
 

Why? It will always sound the same anyway.
Meh.
 ProjectGemini07 wrote:
Reminds me of vintage Bryan Adams a bit.  In a good way.
 
I stand here proudly waving my "I Really, Really Love Bryan Adams" flag, and refused to be even slightly ashamed. He's Canadian, likes Land Rovers, and is still exceedingly easy on the eye, a combination which will get anyone onto my 'phwoarr!' list on any day, with the added bonus of being absolutely incredible live.

So there.
Reminds me of vintage Bryan Adams a bit.  In a good way.
You can probably say of most bands, "all their songs sound the same." Well, it's really true here. 
Very talented band, and one of the best to come around in a long time.  Cant wait to see what else they put out.
Masters of boredom.
An amazing song-guitar a definite 10!
Thank you for sharing this song. I have never heard of this band before. Outstanding and beautiful!
 GlendaMarie wrote:
Yessssssssssssss
ssssssssssssssss!!!!!



 

This band never ceases to amaze me at how smooth, reflective, and poignant their music and lyrics are.  
 lizardking wrote:
I was so looking forward to the release of this album based on the great early release tracks (Thinking of a Place-10; Hold on-9) and while I was slightly disappointed that the entire album wasn't a 10, I do like how all the tracks seem to fit together and with great production.

This track gets a 7 (for now) and the entire album is at an 8+.

Long Live RP!!


 
I've bumped my original 7 to a 9, and find the album in whole, while driving long lonely roads especially, is amazing....Long Live RP!!
Adam Granduciel apparently bought a vintage Gibson SG that simply roared. I think it's put to very good use on this track. Cranking the volume of the guitar solo always gives me chills. He might not be the most technically proficient player, but he sure knows how to manipulate all of his equipment to create something that sits beautifully in each song. I love this band!
 maboleth wrote:
Not sure why many complain here, but A Deeper Understanding album is so much more than Lost in the Dream.

Sure, LitD has several stellar songs, but overall ADU is deeper and more satisfying overall.
 
I am more on the Lost in the Dream side, but I guess there is a bit of a split here. For me A Deeper Understanding doesn't quite work as well, in part because I like the singing less here  and some of the instrumentation and melodies also seem more conventional to me.
Not sure why many complain here, but A Deeper Understanding album is so much more than Lost in the Dream.

Sure, LitD has several stellar songs, but overall ADU is deeper and more satisfying overall.
 westslope wrote:
A Deeper Understanding is a great album and has some terrific songs on it but I am still not convinced that it is better than Lost in The Dream put out in 2014.

Comments?
 
That's true.
I can't hear the guitar solo enough times
 eyeyeye wrote:
This makes me wanna get in a camper van and for ever drive along the coastline...
 

Making an executive decision that any The War On Drugs ratings get only 9s and above. I know there must be other bands from other times, but I can't think of another band, off top of head, that gets so deeper and richer the more you listen. (Anything Neko Case doesn't factor into this immediate top-o-head thinking.) 
 eyeyeye wrote:
This makes me wanna get in a camper van and for ever drive along the coastline...
 
A skateboard will do
lordy
This makes me wanna get in a camper van and for ever drive along the coastline...
 westslope wrote:
A Deeper Understanding is a great album and has some terrific songs on it but I am still not convinced that it is better than Lost in The Dream put out in 2014.

Comments?

 
I agree. Nothing on this record with the driving beat of "Red Eyes" or the reflectiveness of Eyes to the Wind. Still a great album.
eviliko. ... what you posted about a month ago ... you are bang on!
Very hard to follow Pink Floyd Great Gig In The Sky. But they do. Like it
Despite this band, like any other, clearly has influences, be it the Floyd or early Bryan Adams or else, it seems to me that they're doing their own stuff honestly, without stealing anyone's work and without sounding like wanabees. If they were a real rip-off, their record label would be much more invasive and directive, and their album would obviously reflect that commercial strategy, just like many contemporary mainstream megastars who are just packaged products and puppets in the hands of record companies.
 ziggytrix wrote:
I am getting a very strong odor of skating rinks with mirror balls from this one.

 
And would that be bad? 
Sadly have to agree. Some tracks (like this one) draw me away from my work to comment on RP months later, but nothing like my months-on-repeat of the 2014 album. Could also just be that I'm in a different place in my life now :-)

 
westslope wrote:
A Deeper Understanding is a great album and has some terrific songs on it but I am still not convinced that it is better than Lost in The Dream put out in 2014.

Comments?

 

3 tens in a row: Pink Floyd, Time; Pink Floyd, The Great Gig in the Sky; War on Drugs, Strangest Thing.  Hell yeah!
I am getting a very strong odor of skating rinks with mirror balls from this one.
A Deeper Understanding is a great album and has some terrific songs on it but I am still not convinced that it is better than Lost in The Dream put out in 2014.

Comments?
 Proclivities wrote:

Don't try to figure it out.  Just about every song in the playlist has a "sounds like/rip-off of Pink Floyd" remark somewhere in its comments.  I guess one hears what they're listening for.

 
So true!
 greiffenstein wrote:
I am getting a very strong odor of Pink Floyd from this one.  Definitely channelling some Waters-Gilmore energy

 
What you are hearing is purely Bills genius of finding bridges where no bridges existed before.
OK, starting to get a little tired of hearing this band every day. Like 'em but I don't want to get burned out by the overplay.
Being played a lot these days.
Like it but might get fed up with if too much of it
 bam23 wrote:

Odd. Your comment reminds me of something that Roger Waters might have said...

 
{#Cheers}
 Proclivities wrote:

Don't try to figure it out.  Just about every song in the playlist has a "sounds like/rip-off of Pink Floyd" remark somewhere in its comments.  I guess one hears what they're listening for.

 
Odd. Your comment reminds me of something that Roger Waters might have said...
What is up with this boring band being played SO much?? Thank you PSD button. I swear they're played 3+ times per day.
 greiffenstein wrote:
I am getting a very strong odor of Pink Floyd from this one.  Definitely channelling some Waters-Gilmore energy

 

An "odor" of Pink Floyd?  Not perfume, and no scent either.  Nope. This is more of a ballad than anything Waters and/or Gilmour created. That channel of yours may need some dredging. 
 hschlossberg wrote:

Pink Floyd?!? Maybe because it just followed a PF song? It reminds me of Jackson Browne.  icckk

 
It was "Eyes to the Wind" off the last album, Lost in the Dream, that had a Jackson Browne vibe. Not that that's a bad thing.

Glad to hear this one on RP. think this is my favorite off the album (so far...)
 hschlossberg wrote:

Pink Floyd?!? Maybe because it just followed a PF song? It reminds me of Jackson Browne.  icckk

 
Don't try to figure it out.  Just about every song in the playlist has a "sounds like/rip-off of Pink Floyd" remark somewhere in its comments.  I guess one hears what they're listening for.
 greiffenstein wrote:
I am getting a very strong odor of Pink Floyd from this one.  Definitely channelling some Waters-Gilmore energy

 
Pink Floyd?!? Maybe because it just followed a PF song? It reminds me of Jackson Browne.  icckk
I am getting a very strong odor of Pink Floyd from this one.  Definitely channelling some Waters-Gilmore energy
Epic {#Clap}

I was so looking forward to the release of this album based on the great early release tracks (Thinking of a Place-10; Hold on-9) and while I was slightly disappointed that the entire album wasn't a 10, I do like how all the tracks seem to fit together and with great production.

This track gets a 7 (for now) and the entire album is at an 8+.

Long Live RP!!