I Love You So F***Ing Much ［CD+BOOK］

Glass Animals seem compelled to find as many perspectives on the human condition as they possibly can. Its a subject they tackled with breadth on How to Be a Human Beings winsome vignettes and with autobiographical depth on Dreamlands dive into the sounds and memories of Dave Bayleys youth. On I Love You So F***ing Much, the bands approach is equal parts fantasy and intimacy. The success they experienced with Dreamland -- and its multi-platinum single "Heat Waves" in particular -- was as isolating as it was exciting, and left Bayley feeling as lonely as an astronaut who realizes that love and connection are the most powerful forces in the universe. Thats the guiding concept of Glass Animals fourth full-length, and they use it to create a sound-world that is just as enveloping as Dreamland. Where that albums sprawl was held together with home movies, I Love You So F***ing Much is united by its cinematic sounds and sci-fi imagery. "Show Pony"s speedrun through an entire relationship is set to wandering synths and acoustic strumming inherited from David Bowies "Space Oddity"; the interstellar symphonic drama of "A Tear in Space (Airlock)" owes a significant debt to Ennio Morricone. Though nostalgia isnt the focus like it was on Dreamland, Bayley and company still wield it cleverly. "On the Run," which combines allusions to Douglas Adams Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, doo wop backing vocals borrowed from the Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes for You," and the sidewinding balladry of Pixies "Where Is My Mind?," is a charmingly bittersweet tale of finding the escape hatch from a doomed love affair. Indeed, aside from the momentary bliss of "Creatures in Heaven," most of I Love You So F***ing Muchs attempts at connection are fractured at best. Fortunately, it makes for gripping listening, whether its the candid yearning of "I Cant Make You Fall in Love Again" or the final thoughts of a kidnapping victim on "Whatthehellishappening?" This is easily Glass Animals darkest album, and "Wonderful Nothing"s jabbing sarcasm and "How I Learned to Love the Bomb"s volatility pull their songwriting taut and sharpen their hooks. While nothing here is as immediately ingratiating as "Heat Waves" -- the trap-driven parallel universes of "White Roses" might come closest -- its to the bands credit that they didnt try to recapture that songs lightning-in-a-bottle popularity. Dreamland may have been the album that made Glass Animals big, but song for song, I Love You So F***ing Muchs thoughtful, anxious pop might be more rewarding. ~ Heather Phares