Ken Tucker

It's called Forever is a Feeling, and I'm happy to say that her general mood is romantic and optimistic. On the song Best Guess, she sings her affection to a close friend who's become a lover. Dacus's small, intimate voice is tailor-made to be heard whispering in the ears of fans glued to the small screens of their phones. Even her proclamations of passion are subtle and modest.

A song called Ankles reaches back to a time when a woman showing a bit of her ankle was considered daringly erotic. Dacus takes pleasure in transporting this feeling to a contemporary context.

A song called Ankles reaches back to a time when a woman showing a bit of her ankle was considered daringly erotic. Dacus takes pleasure in transporting this feeling to a contemporary context.

A song called Ankles reaches back to a time when a woman showing a bit of her ankle was considered daringly erotic. Dacus takes pleasure in transporting this feeling to a contemporary context.

Lucy Dacus and Jeffrey Lewis both compose acoustic-based singer-songwriter music in which the first-person singular is deployed to announce emotions and opinions. But they could not be more different. For 20 years now, Lewis has been eloquent, crass, romantic, and realistic, frequently all in the same song.

Lucy Dacus and Jeffrey Lewis both compose acoustic-based singer-songwriter music in which the first-person singular is deployed to announce emotions and opinions. But they could not be more different. For 20 years now, Lewis has been eloquent, crass, romantic, and realistic, frequently all in the same song.

Lucy Dacus and Jeffrey Lewis both compose acoustic-based singer-songwriter music in which the first-person singular is deployed to announce emotions and opinions. But they could not be more different. For 20 years now, Lewis has been eloquent, crass, romantic, and realistic, frequently all in the same song.

When he writes a confessional lyric, he exposes more than a well-turned ankle, not bothering with artful metaphors.

When he writes a confessional lyric, he exposes more than a well-turned ankle, not bothering with artful metaphors.

When he writes a confessional lyric, he exposes more than a well-turned ankle, not bothering with artful metaphors.

Lewis's new album is called The Even More Freewheeling Jeffrey Lewis, the title and cover photo a nod to Bob Dylan's early New York City folky days. A dedicated New Yorker himself, Lewis gets louder and more low-down on this album's centerpiece, a great song about just how painful daily existence can be called Sometimes Life Hits You.

Lewis's new album is called The Even More Freewheeling Jeffrey Lewis, the title and cover photo a nod to Bob Dylan's early New York City folky days. A dedicated New Yorker himself, Lewis gets louder and more low-down on this album's centerpiece, a great song about just how painful daily existence can be called Sometimes Life Hits You.

Lewis's new album is called The Even More Freewheeling Jeffrey Lewis, the title and cover photo a nod to Bob Dylan's early New York City folky days. A dedicated New Yorker himself, Lewis gets louder and more low-down on this album's centerpiece, a great song about just how painful daily existence can be called Sometimes Life Hits You.

This is the musical equivalent of hitting your thumb with a hammer, and on the less radio-friendly version of that song, Lewis inserts a pungent four-letter curse between the words ow and that hurts. Lucy Dacus makes clear that she, too, has experienced moments when, in Jeffrey Lewis's phrase, life hits you like a chisel to the chest. Both of these artists have their flaws.

This is the musical equivalent of hitting your thumb with a hammer, and on the less radio-friendly version of that song, Lewis inserts a pungent four-letter curse between the words ow and that hurts. Lucy Dacus makes clear that she, too, has experienced moments when, in Jeffrey Lewis's phrase, life hits you like a chisel to the chest. Both of these artists have their flaws.

This is the musical equivalent of hitting your thumb with a hammer, and on the less radio-friendly version of that song, Lewis inserts a pungent four-letter curse between the words ow and that hurts. Lucy Dacus makes clear that she, too, has experienced moments when, in Jeffrey Lewis's phrase, life hits you like a chisel to the chest. Both of these artists have their flaws.

Lewis is sometimes too yammeringly self-absorbed. Dacus is sometimes too much of a monotone mumbler. Each can flatten music that ought to sound more airy and buoyant. But their best songs answer Dacus's question that began this review. Why do I have to tell you about it?

Lewis is sometimes too yammeringly self-absorbed. Dacus is sometimes too much of a monotone mumbler. Each can flatten music that ought to sound more airy and buoyant. But their best songs answer Dacus's question that began this review. Why do I have to tell you about it?

Lewis is sometimes too yammeringly self-absorbed. Dacus is sometimes too much of a monotone mumbler. Each can flatten music that ought to sound more airy and buoyant. But their best songs answer Dacus's question that began this review. Why do I have to tell you about it?

For both Dacus and Lewis, the answer is because it feels good to unburden yourself and maybe lift a burden or confirm a feeling for your listeners as well.