The War on Drugs’ 2011 effort, Slave Ambient, was a sprawling, dreamy masterpiece. Sifting track through track, the record seamlessly built up and down around “Come to the City,” its centerpiece. “Red Eyes,” the first ultra-early taste of the band’s next record, Lost in the Dream, functions as daytime companion to “Come to the City.” For five minutes, the track rides like an accelerating car on an open road, constantly building amongst the sheening synths and pounding, persistent drums.
Production wise, “Red Eyes” is clearer than any of the Slave Ambient material — and with main man Adam Granduciel sounding more wide eyed than ever, it fits. Seriously, the dude rings of more freedom than a 16-year-old straight out of the DMV, license in hand. This is driving music perfected; this is music that begs for a blue sky but is seemingly content with whatever it meets along the road. And because of this, like the classic Springsteen and Petty tracks that came before it, “Red Eyes” isn’t reminiscent of any specific region or area of the United States. It sounds like the whole fucking 50.