How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?

by Big Red Machine

Overview

Arriving three years after the project's full-length debut, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? takes the form of a star-studded, over-hour-long follow-up by Big Red Machine, a collaboration between Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and the National's Aaron Dessner. More collaborative and less experimental than its predecessor, it adheres to a dreamy, wistful, midtempo universe, one where guest vocalists float in and out of duets with and takeovers for Vernon as various themes relating to the lifecycle languidly unfold. A consistently subdued, reflective affair with minimal chord movement and delicate production touches, its selection of "Latter Days" as the opener -- a song nostalgic for innocence -- is fitting. A duet with Anais Mitchell, it also establishes the record's spartan approach to arranging, with electric piano, simple drums, and evaporative electronic atmosphere. Mitchell soon turns up again, this time alongside Fleet Foxes on the modestly jauntier "Phoenix." Also making more than one appearance here is none other than Taylor Swift, on the heels of her own folklore and Evermore, which were co-produced by Dessner. She takes the lead on the compassionate "Renegade" after providing harmony vocals on "Birch," a soaring highlight for Vernon. Along with the improvisatory "Easy to Sabotage" (featuring Naeem), among the album's more animated entries is "Mimi," which layers noodly guitar and vocal rounds by Vernon and guest singer Ilsey (Ilsey Juber) over an odd time signature that might best be described as 5/8. That song was co-written by Vernon, Dessner, and Ilsey and features drums by Big Thief's James Krivchenia. Among other contributors are Sharon Van Etten, Lisa Hannigan, and My Brightest Diamond's Shara Nova, who join forces as backing vocalists on a gospel-informed tribute to Scott Hutchison ("Hutch"), and Ben Howard and This Is the Kit, who appear together on "June's a River." Elsewhere, "Brycie" -- dedicated to Aaron Dessner's brother and National bandmate, Bryce -- is one of three tracks to feature Aaron on lead vocals for the first time in his career. After an hour, the album is bookended with another Anais Mitchell appearance, the nostalgic "New Auburn." While How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?'s mellow poignancy is likely to stick more than any of its songs; its pathos is genuine and immersive. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	08/27/2021
Label:	JAGJAGUWAR
UPC:	0656605241531

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Big Red Machine   Primary Artist
Aaron Dessner   Mellotron,Mini Moog,Sequencing,Tambourine,Synthesizer,Drum Machine,Drums (Bass),Drums (Snare),Guitar (Bass),Piano (Upright),Hi String Guitar,Synthesizer Bass,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Prophet Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Piano,Guitar,Shaker,Vocals,Clacker,Cymbals
Bryce Dessner   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Sean Carey   Prophet Synthesizer
Benjamin Lanz   Synthesizer
Dave Nelson   Trumpet,Trombone
Ryan Olson   Hi Hat
Ben Howard   Vocals,Featured Artist
Jason Treuting   Drums
This Is the Kit   Featured Artist
Kyle Resnick   Flugelhorn
Naeem Juwan   Vocals,Featured Artist
Ariel Engle   Vocals
Andrew Broder   Synthesizer
Ber Quinn   Vocals (Background)
Chloe Rowlands   Trumpet
JT Bates   Drums
Naeem   Featured Artist,Featured Artist
Anais Mitchell   Vocals,Featured Artist
Michael Lewis   Saxophone
Lisa Hannigan   Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Taylor Swift   Vocals,Featured Artist
The Latter Days   Featured Artist
Thomas Bartlett   Drums,Mellotron,Synthesizer,Prophet Synthesizer
James McAlister   Electronic Percussion
Justin Vernon   Vocals,Mellotron,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Fleet Foxes   Featured Artist
Ilsey Juber   Vocals
Kate Stables   Vocals
Robin Pecknold   Piano,Vocals,Mellotron
Sharon Van Etten   Vocals,Featured Artist
Brad Cook   Bass,Juno,Mellotron,Guitar (Bass)
La Force   Featured Artist
Riley Mulherkar   Trumpet
Andy Clausen   Trombone
Willem De Koch   Trombone
James Krivchenia   Drums
Ilsey   Synthesizer,Featured Artist
Yuki Numata Resnick   Viola,Violin
Shara Nova   Vocals,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Aaron Dessner   Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Composer,Engineer
Bryce Dessner   Engineer,Orchestration
Shahzad Ismaily   Vocal Engineer
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Jonathan Low   Additional Production,Mixing,Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Benjamin Lanz   Engineer
Dave Nelson   Engineer,Brass Arrangement
Ryan Olson   Engineer
Ben Howard   Composer
Jessica Dessner   Composer
Ragnar Kjartansson   Composer
Kyle Resnick   Engineer
Naeem Juwan   Composer
Ariel Engle   Composer,Vocal Engineer
Brandon Reid   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Chloe Rowlands   Engineer
Nicole Riegel   Composer
Anais Mitchell   Composer,Vocal Engineer
Jarvis Taveniere   Engineer
Taylor Swift   Composer
Thomas Bartlett   Engineer
James McAlister   Engineer
Bryan Devendorf   Composer,Engineer,Drum Programming
Justin Vernon   Composer,Engineer,Vocal Engineer,Additional Production
Steve Fallone   Mastering
Ilsey Juber   Composer
Robin Pecknold   Composer,Additional Production
Sharon Van Etten   Vocal Engineer
Xandy Whitesel   Engineer
Graham Tolbert   Design
Brad Cook   Additional Production
Bella Blasko   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Scott Chesak   Vocal Engineer
Riley Mulherkar   Engineer
The Westerlies   Brass Arrangement
Andy Clausen   Engineer
Willem De Koch   Engineer
Andrew Lappin   Vocal Engineer
Shara Nova   Vocal Engineer,Vocal Arrangement