Big Thief: "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You" (Album Review)

 Genres: Indie Folk, Folk Rock, Americana

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You is a mouthful of an album title that brings forth a mix of different images, but what stands out to me is the album’s cover. The smudged sketch depicting a group of animals gathered around a campfire with the bear playing guitar tells you all you need to know about the record. Big Thief is a group whose members have huge personalities that are reflected in their music. What makes their playfulness and silliness so great is how it’s expressed so genuinely. These qualities aren’t viewed as lesser just because they’re not serious. Everything has its own place on this record, even this lighthearted side of goofiness that the band hasn’t really explored before. This album is a display of all the different qualities Big Thief has to offer, including their own silliness and awkwardness.

The breath of a dragon, the roaring of a dinosaur, and the clumsy yet tender guitar playing of a bear with its buttcheeks out. These images give much insight into DNWMIBIY and Big Thief as a band. With almost an hour and 30 minutes worth of music, Big Thief gives themselves enough time to truly explore. This album is an expression of all the qualities that the band has to offer. Thankfully, the length of the record is such that they create a full sound. Although there are times of wandering and branching out a little far, that’s part of the charm. You aren’t taken down a linear path, you’re left with a field to roam around. Each of the 20 songs is stitched together like a quilt that wraps around you to keep you warm. DNWMIBIY is an album to get lost in. Ignoring Buck Meek’s absolutely mediocre guitar performances, there’s a spectrum of different sounds that are all gorgeous. Unfortunately, there isn’t a deeper dive into Big Thief’s different qualities, feeling more like a glimpse into these aspects. Even so, there’s a strong thematic connection between every track that strengthens the core of the album.  

A memorable example of the dynamic nature of Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You is with the song “Spud Infinity”. This track is an oddity of Big Thief’s catalogue featuring playful lyrics, a jaw harp, and a fiddle. Just because of the light nature of “Spud Infinity” doesn’t mean that it’s just a joke. The humor of the song should not be removed from it and viewed as an outside quality. “Spud Infinity”‘s lightheartedness does not take away from the weight of the lyrics about self-love and acceptance. Likewise, unorthodox songs for the band such as “Blurred View”, carry such strong meaning, while expanding Big Thief’s sound. 

Big Thief embrace the idea of being comfortable without locking themselves into their comfort zone. To be in love is to be comfortable, and to be comfortable is to accept yourself. This train of thinking may be debatable, but this record provides some pretty strong evidence to support it. In a similar vein, I think it’s important to understand that this album isn’t just Big Thief being silly, or even Big Thief exploring a new side of themselves. It’s how they make up the wholeness of the band. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You is playful, comforting, tear-jerking, awkward, and so much more. Unsatisfied with presenting itself as just a few things, this record’s layers are discovered by paying attention to the band members’ colorful personalities.

Favorite Tracks: Blue Lightning, Promise Is a Pendulum, The Only Place, Blurred View, Simulation Swarm, Dried Roses, Heavy Bend, Love Love Love, Certainty, Wake Me up to Drive, Red Moon, Little Things, Sparrow, Dragon New Warm Mountain Change, Spud Infinity 

Least Favorites: Time Escaping

Enjoyment: Low 9

Critically: Low 9

Arbitrary Number: 9.0/10