Big Thief
Big Thief performing onstage
Big Thief performing in 2018. From left to right: Buck Meek, James Krivchenia, and Adrianne Lenker (Max Oleartchik is obscured by Lenker)
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresIndie folk, folk rock, indie rock
Years active2015–present
Labels
Members
Past membersJason Burger
Websitebigthief.net

Big Thief is an American indie folk band based in Brooklyn, New York. Its members are Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals), Buck Meek (guitar, backing vocals), Max Oleartchik (bass), and James Krivchenia (drums).[1]

The band's debut album, Masterpiece, was released on Saddle Creek Records in 2016. Their second studio album, Capacity, was released in 2017. In 2019, the band signed to 4AD and released two studio albums: U.F.O.F. in May 2019 and Two Hands in October 2019. Both albums received critical acclaim; U.F.O.F. was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, and the song "Not", was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The band's fifth studio album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, was released in February 2022. A double album, it reached the top ten in the Netherlands and was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2023 Grammys, while its second single "Certainty" was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance.

History

2013–2015: Early years

Adrianne Lenker met Buck Meek at a show in Boston, and after meeting him again in Brooklyn as undergraduates, the pair began performing as a duo.[2][3] They toured as a duo in 2013, and released two EPs, a-sides and b-sides, in 2014. In 2015, after performing for two years and developing a small grassroots following, they began looking for additional members to accompany them, and formed the band Big Thief with the arrival of Max Oleartchik, a bassist and longtime friend of Meek's. James Krivchenia joined the band later, originally as a sound engineer and then as a drummer.[3][2] All four members of Big Thief attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.[4]

2016–2018: Masterpiece and Capacity

The band's debut studio album, Masterpiece was released on Saddle Creek Records on May 27, 2016.[5] It received generally favorable reviews from critics; it has a rating of 79/100 on Metacritic.[6] Bob Boilen from NPR wrote that Big Thief was "a band bound by great songs," and called the title track of Masterpiece "one of the best songs I've heard this year."[7] Jillian Mapes, writing for Pitchfork Media, gave Masterpiece a rating of 7.7 out of 10 saying the songs on the album "sound cherry-picked over a lifetime of writing".[8] Robert Christgau described the album's songs as being "fragile, noisy images of a love perpetually out of reach".[9] Ben Salmon wrote in the Portland Mercury that on the album Big Thief "alternately sounds like an unearthed field recording ("Little Arrow"), a pop band with a broken heart's pulse ("Vegas"), and a classic, buzzy indie-rock outfit ("Interstate")."[1] On April 4, 2017, Big Thief premiered a new single "Mythological Beauty" on NPR.[10] The next day the band released the single's official video and confirmed that the song would appear on their second studio album, Capacity. The full album was released on June 9 via Saddle Creek.[11] Capacity received critical acclaim upon its release. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from music critics, the album received an average score of 81 indicating "universal acclaim" based on 15 reviews.[12]

Capacity appeared on multiple album-of-the-year lists, including #1 on NPR's "Bob Boilen's Top Ten Album's of 2017".[13] Boilen said, "I don't recall the last time I had the same band in my top five albums for two years in a row. But this year's Capacity (my No. 1 album) and last year's Masterpiece (my No. 4 album) did just that." Spin named Capacity #2 on their "50 Best Albums of 2017", citing the band's "open engagement with anguish in their bracing songs."[14] The song "Mary" appeared on Pitchfork's 200 Best Songs of the 2010s list, at #44.[15]

2019–2020: U.F.O.F. and Two Hands

U.F.O.F., the band's third studio album was announced on February 26, 2019. The album was recorded at Bear Creek Studio in Woodinville, Washington. On the same day they released the album's first single, its title track, "U.F.O.F.",[16][17] and announced a new tour across America and in Europe. The band released two more singles, "Cattails" and "Century" ahead of the album release on May 3, 2019. U.F.O.F. received critical acclaim upon its release. It was called "Best New Music" by Pitchfork, scoring a 9.2[18] and came in at #33 on Pitchfork's 200 Best Albums of the 2010s list.[19] At Metacritic the album received an average score of 87/100.[20] In the first album's release week U.F.O.F. reached the top of Billboard charts, including the #1 position on Alternative New Artist Albums, Americana/Folk Albums, Top New Artist Albums, #2 placement for LP Vinyl Albums, #6 placement for Current Alternative Albums, #8 placement for Current Rock Albums, and #142 for Billboard Top 200 Albums.[21] The band also had 3 sold out album release shows, one the night before the album release in LA at The Fonda Theatre on May 2, another in LA on May 3 at The Bootleg Theater,[22] and a third night in Brooklyn, NY at Elsewhere on May 5, 2019.

U.F.O.F. was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[23]

Big Thief released their fourth studio album, Two Hands on October 11, 2019. The album was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, shortly after the recording of U.F.O.F. and is billed as its "Earth twin".[24][25] The album's lead single "Not" was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[26]

2021–present: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

On August 10, 2021, the band released the songs "Little Things" and "Sparrow", both which were produced by Big Thief drummer James Krivchenia.[27] "Little Things" was recorded with Shawn Everett at Five Star Studios in Topanga, California in October 2020. "Sparrow" was recorded with Sam Evian at Flying Cloud Recordings in the Catskills, New York in July and August 2020.[28]

On September 7, 2021, the band released a song "Certainty"[29] followed by another song "Change", on October 6. They also announced plans for a North American tour in 2022.[30]

In the November 2021 issue of Mojo, Big Thief announced their plans to release a 20-track double album in early 2022. The album was recorded in four different locations across the United States after the band quarantined in the Vermont woods for two weeks in July 2020.[31][32] Later that month the band confirmed the album's title Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You and a February 11, 2022, release date.[33]

In June 2022, the band announced two concert dates in Oleartchik's hometown of Tel Aviv, Israel for July 6 and 7 of the same year.[34] However, the announcement received backlash with criticism pertaining to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[35] The band first released a statement defending their decision to perform in Israel,[36] then eventually retracted their previous statement and canceled the concert dates.[37] The cancellation was received with opposite backlash from the concert venue.[38] The band previously performed at the venue in 2017.[36]

At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album and "Certainty" was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance.[39]

In July 2023, the band released the single "Vampire Empire",[40] which they had debuted in a live performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert earlier in February of the same year.[41]

Band members

Current members

  • Adrianne Lenker – vocals, guitar (2015–present)
  • Buck Meek – guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
  • Max Oleartchik – bass guitar, upright bass, backing vocals (2015–present)
  • James Krivchenia – drums, backing vocals (2016–present)

Former member

  • Jason Burger – drums (2015–2016)[42]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[43]		 AUS
[44]		 BEL
(FL)
[45]		 BEL
(WA)
[46]		 GER
[47]		 IRE
[48]		 NL
[49]		 SCO
[50]		 SWI
[51]		 UK
[52]
Masterpiece —[upper-alpha 1]—————————
Capacity
  • Released: June 9, 2017
  • Label: Saddle Creek
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
 —[upper-alpha 2]—————————
U.F.O.F.
  • Released: May 3, 2019
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
 142—[upper-alpha 3]26——8180216841
Two Hands
  • Released: October 11, 2019
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
 1139920119—78598—34
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
  • Released: February 11, 2022
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
 31196602422653515
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs

  • Demos Vol. 1 (2020)
  • Live at the Bunker Studio (2021)[55]

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA
[56]		 US
Rock
[57]		 BEL
(FL)
Tip
[45]		 ICE
[58]		 UK
Sales
[52]
"Masterpiece"[59] 2016 ————— Masterpiece
"Mother"[60] ————— Non-album singles
"Dandelion"[61] —————
"Mythological Beauty"[62] 2017 —————[upper-alpha 4] Capacity
"Shark Smile"[64] —————
"Mary"[65] —————
"U.F.O.F."[66] 2019 ———[upper-alpha 5]—— U.F.O.F.
"Cattails"[67] ———[upper-alpha 6]——
"Century"[68] ———[upper-alpha 7]——
"Not" ——30—— Two Hands
"Forgotten Eyes"[69] ———[upper-alpha 8]——
"Love in Mine"[70] 2020 ————— Non-album single
"Off You"[71] 2021 ————— Bills & Aches & Blues
"Little Things" / "Sparrow"[72] ———33— Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
"Certainty"[73] 34——11—
"Change"[74] —————
"Time Escaping"[75] —————
"No Reason" / "Spud Infinity"[76] ———4—
"Simulation Swarm"[77] 2022 18————
"Vampire Empire"[78] 2023 3431——37 Non-album singles
"Born for Loving You" —————
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

  • "Masterpiece" (2016)
  • "Humans" (2016)
  • "Mythological Beauty" (2017)
  • "Red Moon" (2022)

Notes

  1. ↑ Masterpiece did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 10 on the US Heatseekers Albums Chart.[53]
  2. ↑ Capacity did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 9 on the US Heatseekers Albums Chart.[53]
  3. ↑ U.F.O.F. did not enter the Australian ARIA Albums Chart but peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Hitseekers Chart.[54]
  4. ↑ "Mythological Beauty" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 46 on the UK Physical Singles Chart.[63]
  5. ↑ "U.F.O.F." did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[45]
  6. ↑ "Cattails" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[45]
  7. ↑ "Century" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[45]
  8. ↑ "Forgotten Eyes" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[45]

Accolades

Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref
2020 Grammy Awards Best Alternative Album U.F.O.F Nominated [79]
Libera Awards Album of the Year Won [80]
Best Alternative Rock Album Nominated
2021 Grammy Awards Best Rock Performance "Not" Nominated [81]
Best Rock Song Nominated
2023 Grammy Awards Best Alternative Album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You Nominated [39]
Best Alternative Music Performance "Certainty" Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Salmon, Ben (July 6, 2016). "Big Thief's Masterpiece Finds the Right Alchemy". Portland Mercury. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Petrusich, Amanda (October 12, 2020). "Adrianne Lenker's Radical Honesty". The New Yorker. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Naddaff-Hafrey, Benjamin (November 9, 2017). "The Lore Of Big Thief". NPR. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ Maldonado, Eva (August 10, 2018). "Indie rock band Big Thief talks Berklee, Boston, and being vulnerable". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. ↑ Weiss, Dan (June 1, 2016). "Review: Big Thief Are Halfway To A Low-Strung 'Masterpiece'". Spin. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Masterpiece by Big Thief Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  7. ↑ Boilen, Bob (May 19, 2016). "Review: Big Thief, 'Masterpiece'". NPR. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. ↑ Mapes, Jillian (June 6, 2016). "Masterpiece Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  9. ↑ Christgau, Robert (July 8, 2016). "Car Seat Headrest, The Julie Ruin, and Drugs: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ "New Mix: Son Lux, Public Service Broadcasting, Big Thief, More". NPR.org. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ Wicks, Amanda (April 5, 2017). "Big Thief Announce New Album Capacity, Share New "Mythological Beauty" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Capacity by Big Thief Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Bob Boilen's Top 10 Albums Of 2017". NPR.org. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  14. ↑ "50 Best Albums Of 2017". Spin. December 18, 2017. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ↑ "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 7, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ Kaye, Ben (February 26, 2019). "Big Thief announce new album, U.F.O.F., share title track: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam (February 26, 2019). "Big Thief: "UFOF" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  18. ↑ Larson, Jeremy D. (May 6, 2019). "Big Thief: U.F.O.F. Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  19. ↑ "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 8, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ "U.F.O.F. by Big Thief Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Photos: Big Thief at the Fonda Theatre". Buzzbands.la. May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  23. ↑ "5 Takeaways from the 2020 Grammy Nominations". Pitchfork. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Big Thief: 'Two Hands'". 4AD. October 11, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ Terry, Josh (October 11, 2019). "Big Thief's 'Two Hands' Finds a Radical Strength in Kindness". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Adrienne Lenker". www.grammy.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  27. ↑ Minsker, Evan (August 10, 2021). "Big Thief Share New Songs "Little Things" and "Sparrow": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Big Thief: 'Little Things / Sparrow'". 4AD. August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  29. ↑ Legaspi, Althea (September 7, 2021). "Big Thief's New Song 'Certainty' Was Recorded Using a Cigarette Lighter". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  30. ↑ Skinner, Tom (October 6, 2021). "Big Thief share dreamy new single 'Change' and North American tour dates". NME. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  31. ↑ Aston, Martin (November 2021). "Big Thief Trust Themselves To Find Mystery On Album Five". Mojo. No. 336. p. 22.
  32. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (October 4, 2021). "Big Thief Prep Double LP For 2022". Stereogum. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Big Thief: 'Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You'". 4AD. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  34. ↑ Richards, Will (June 5, 2022). "Big Thief share statement explaining decision to announce Israel shows". NME. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  35. ↑ Uitti, Jacob (June 6, 2022). "NYC Band Big Thief Receives Backlash as they Hype Shows in Israel". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  36. 1 2 Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (June 4, 2022). "Big Thief Defend Upcoming Shows in Israel". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  37. ↑ Monroe, Jazz (June 9, 2022). "Big Thief Call Off Israel Concerts". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  38. ↑ Young, Alex (June 9, 2022). "Big Thief cancel concerts in Israel, venue calls band "cowards"". Consequence. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  39. 1 2 Lee, Taila (November 15, 2022). "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". Grammys.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  40. ↑ DeVille, Chris (July 19, 2023). "Big Thief – "Vampire Empire"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  41. ↑ Minsker, Evan (March 1, 2023). "Watch Big Thief Debut New Song "Vampire Empire" on Colbert". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Found In Sound; An Interview with James Krivchenia of Big Thief". Ghettoblastermagazine.com. November 22, 2017. Archived from the original on September 19, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Big Thief Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  44. ↑ Peaks in Australia:
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Discografie Big Thief". Ultratop. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Discografie Big Thief". Ultratop. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Discographie Big Thief". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Discography Big Thief". irish-charts.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Discografie Big Thief". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  50. ↑ Peaks in Scotland:
  51. ↑ "Discography Big Thief". swisscharts.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  52. 1 2 "Big Thief UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  53. 1 2 "Big Thief Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  54. ↑ "ARIA Report: Issue 1523" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  55. ↑ Redfern, Mark (May 11, 2021). "Big Thief Announce Fall Tour Dates, Release New Live EP and Share Live Video for "Shoulders"". Under the Radar. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Big Thief – Chart History: Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  57. ↑ "Big Thief – Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  58. ↑
  59. ↑ "Masterpiece – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Mother – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Dandelion – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Mythological Beauty – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  63. ↑ "Mythological Beauty - Big Thief - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  64. ↑ "Shark Smile – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  65. ↑ "Big Thief – "Mary"". Stereogum. May 31, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  66. ↑ "Big Thief – "UFOF"". Stereogum. February 26, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  67. ↑ "Big Thief – "Cattails"". Stereogum. April 3, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  68. ↑ "Big Thief drops melodic and laidback new single "Century": Stream". Consequence of Sound. April 30, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  69. ↑ "Big Thief – "Forgotten Eyes"". Stereogum. October 2, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  70. ↑ "Love in Mine – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  71. ↑ "Off You – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  72. ↑ "Little Things/Sparrow – Single by Big Thief on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  73. ↑ Hussey, Allison (September 7, 2021). "Big Thief Share New Song "Certainty": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  74. ↑ Minsker, Evan (October 6, 2021). "Big Thief Announce 2022 North American Tour, Share New Song "Change": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  75. ↑ Darville, Jordan (November 16, 2021). "Big Thief share "Time Escaping," announce new album". The Fader. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  76. ↑ Minsker, Evan (December 14, 2021). "Big Thief Share New Songs "No Reason" and "Spud Infinity": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  77. ↑ Hussey, Allison (January 19, 2022). "Big Thief Reschedule European Tour, Share New Song "Simulation Swarm"". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  78. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (July 19, 2023). "Big Thief Officially Release "Vampire Empire"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  79. ↑ "Best Alternative Music Album | 2020 GRAMMYs". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  80. ↑ Brandle, Lars (April 2, 2020). "Chance the Rapper, FKA Twigs, Courtney Barnett & More Shortlisted For 2020 A2IM Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  81. ↑ "2021 2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List". GRAMMYs. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
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