Big Thief - Masterpiece

Masterpiece is Big Thief's debut album, packed with vivid characters and raw, emotional stories that shift and evolve quickly. Adrianne Lenker’s voice and guitar work explore deep feelings with both grace and insight. She describes the album as tracking “the masterpiece of existence,” capturing moments when people try to connect, wake themselves up, or shake off numbness. While the lyrics can feel impressionistic or surreal, they’re always rooted in simple, relatable experiences.

Recorded in July 2015 at an old house turned studio on Lake Champlain, the album was produced by Andrew Sarlo with James Krivchenia engineering—who would later join the band full-time. Masterpiece takes listeners on a real journey, filled with smart storytelling and melodies full of unexpected turns, as praised by fellow musician Sharon Van Etten.