Adrianne Lenker is at her best in Bright Future, but when is she not? Whether working with Big Thief or solo, she knows how to cut to the heart of things and capture the unspeakable.

Most of this album is stripped down. Piano here and there, some violin and her traditionally stunning guitar work. When drums appear, they’re tight and precise—such as on “Vampire Empire,” a ballad about codependent love. Her voice weaves through childhood memories, past partners, the beauty things retain even once grief takes hold.

Her single “Fool” is a standout track. It feels like a late-20s anthem—watching your friends grow up, still stumbling through the early stages of love, feeling like you have no idea what you’re doing from one day to the next. “I feel like a fool, yeah / … / You keep it cool / Watching my fire ignite / Heart out of sight / Body and mind fistfight.” And the aesthetics—cowboy hat, folksy flourishes—lean into her queerness, as the entire album explores the boundaries and fluidity of gender.

Two other tracks drew me in for their beautiful guitar and vocal harmonies. “No Machine” and “Already Lost” will be on repeat for many months to come.

I feel the thesis of this album lies in its third song, “Sadness As A Gift.” The tracks flit between heartbreak, butterflies, all the stages in between, and land in a sense of gratitude. “It’s time to let go / Leaning on the windowsill / You could write me sometime, and I bet you will / We could see the sadness as a gift and still.”

Just like in 2020’s songs, Lenker has brought her poetry and humor to life through gorgeous arrangements. I’m forever awaiting what she comes out with next.