57. Big Thief - “Mythological Beauty”

This whole album by Big Thief is superb. It’s a masterpiece – like those expansive and overwhelming paintings that somehow capture every lifelike detail and emotion in a stunning display of realistic yet simulated perfection. The songs are as varied as they are beautiful, ranging from frail ballads and unwinding narratives to momentous and gripping jams.

This particular song falls on the more crystalline side of the spectrum, like a collection of memories that has been delicately organized into a web-like and iridescent work of art. There’s a beauty to it that transcends any of the negative that composes and gives it shape. It’s acceptance, standing aback, and recognizing that the darkness only adds to the light, that everything that composes you – good and bad alike, has been necessary to bring you to where you are today. Life is an infinite chain of cause and effect, with no moment or individual standing removed or separate from the rest. It’s all connected, and recognizing that connection can be a beautiful and liberating act of acceptance.