“Big Thief’s” new song “Double Infinity” features delicate vocals throughout the track. But vocals are not the star of the song; the story of love and longing is. 

The very first verse introduces listeners to the theme of longing. Adrianne Lenker starts by singing that, despite being in the arms of her current lover, she longs for either someone from her past or a new person waiting for her in the future. Desiring a different life, despite already living one filled with love and fulfilment, is universal. 

Verse two directly addresses those feelings of shame. Lenker asks her “troubled” mind to relax and let her live in the present with the love she already has in her life. Still, her desires stick; Lenker concludes that her mind is testing her. 

She depicts a small red devil on one shoulder telling her to find her old lover or leave her current one and wait for someone new. Simultaneously, the other shoulder has a small white angel reminding her of the love she currently has. This angel is urging Lenker not to risk love for the high of being with someone new. 

Adrianne calls for the guidance of the angel in the third verse as she realizes staying grounded is the best way to tune out the small devil. 

Lenker’s longing is not limited to love. She longs for community and meaning, describing her life as being trapped behind walls while time and the world move on without her. 

It’s important to highlight that this track lacked steady vocals, as Lenker’s voice was unsteady and at times streaky. The instrumental matched the shaky vocals and was strange overall. “Big Thief” is an alternative band, so critiques of this song might not be an issue of quality but of taste and expectations. 

Every genre of music has its own standards for what makes a “good” song or album. Alternative music is, well, an alternative for the music mainstream. The art “Big Thief“ creates for the world is curated to the tastes of a small and perhaps peculiar music audience. 

This song contains soft vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano and other percussion instruments. Young music enthusiasts and singers alike can sample this song and make it theirs. Many might just enjoy the music as is, since it’s unique and Lecker’s voice brings out feelings of serenity. Background vocals from Alena Spanger, Hannah Cohen and June McDoom do a great job

stabilizing Lecker’s shakiness. For some, these background vocals save the song and make it enjoyable.