Storytime with Mr. Finn

Craig Finn’s I Need a New War is a casual powerhouse album. It doesn’t have tracks on the scale of Kanye’s “All of the Lights” or Foo Fighters “Everlong,” but Finn gives listeners a lot, with high-quality music, lyrics and imagery.

While the album artwork is eye-catching, an initial look at it is hardly as powerful as getting lost in it after listening to this album. It feels like walking through corn fields, stopping in the middle of desert roads and being pensive in a place free of civilization’s worries. It sounds rustic and natural, though it doesn’t shy away from synthesizers, and this feeling is particularly notable in the opening songs.

“Blankets” is an admirable choice for the opener, as it shows off Finn’s oaky, traveled voice (a constant throughout this album) and introduces not only the synth but also Finn’s knack for adding instruments outside the rhythm section, which in the case of “Blankets,” is a harmonica.

“Magic Marker” is a lyrical warrior, and it dazzles the masses with the tasty horn line that comes in partway through. Despite the strength of this tune, it gets shown-up by the storybook that is “A Bathtub in the Kitchen.” Finn’s lyrics would lead one to think that this song is actually called “Thank you, Francis,” given how often he thanks this friend of his. But honestly, the title he settled on, while only mentioned once, is a better description of how he felt during this troubled part of his life — the line has more weight to it with its fewer mentions. This one feels like a conversation that starts out as just a way to pass the time while waiting, but gradually turns into a two hour trek into each other’s lives; by the end, nothing quite seems the same anymore. Everything seems to get soaked up by the full sound of the synth on this one.

“Indications” and “Anne Marie and Shane” are the two least memorable songs though they fit nicely into formation with the others and thereby strengthen the album as a whole. “Grant at Galena” takes its time marching through, and displays Finn sounding more paternal than on the other tracks, more like a historical figure (which fits with the title). While his voice is noteworthy, the guitar here is gregarious — friendlier and closer than usual, as if it’s tall grass that we’re walking through.

Background vocals and horns pair up (again?) wonderfully on “Something to Hope For,” a contender for the best song here. Horns are featured again though to a lesser extent on “Holyoke,” with a calm trombone part in the opening that slowly etches a smile into the listener’s face. One, if not the saddest tune is “Carmen Isn’t Coming in Today,” though it is melancholy, it fits the album artwork better than any other, really driving home the pensive, worried wonder of being isolated from friends and family.

Lyrically, there is not a dull moment to be heard, which also makes finding a stand-out line rather challenging. “A Bathtub in the Kitchen” has rather plain lyrics, but grouped together in the story told throughout the song and sung so well by Finn, those lines become transformative. “Magic Marker” expresses longing and regret, and there is hope amidst the struggle in the aptly-titled “Something to Hope For.” Luckily, there is not much more to hope for while listening to I Need a New War, for this album damn near has it all. It is highly unlikely that someone could get through this without liking anything. The instrumentation is minimal but full, Finn’s voice is clear and wise, and it makes city life seem a little sweeter. Please give this album a listen.