A Deeper Understanding

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.6/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8869/The-War-On-Drugs-A-Deeper-Understanding.aspx|title=A Deeper Understanding by The War On Drugs reviews|website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=August 27, 2019}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/a-deeper-understanding/the-war-on-drugs|title=Reviews and Tracks for A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs|website=Metacritic|access-date=August 14, 2017}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-deeper-understanding-mw0003062304|title=A Deeper Understanding – The War on Drugs|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 23, 2017|last=Donelson|first=Marcy}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A−{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-war-on-drugs-biggest-album-thrives-on-its-smallest-1798024733|title=The War On Drugs' biggest album thrives on its smallest details|work=The A.V. Club|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=August 30, 2017|last=Gerardi|first=Matt}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3score= {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/24/the-war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding-review-the-expansive-sound-of-love-and-loneliness|title=The War on Drugs: A Deeper Understanding review – the expansive sound of love and loneliness|work=The Guardian|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017|last=Mumford|first=Gwilym}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4score= {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-queens-of-the-stone-age-villains-the-war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding-izzi-dunn-a7909826.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825084144/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-queens-of-the-stone-age-villains-the-war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding-izzi-dunn-a7909826.html |archive-date=2017-08-25 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Album reviews: Queens Of The Stone Age – Villains, The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding, and more|work=The Independent|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=August 30, 2017|last=Gill|first=Andy}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-war-on-drugs-deeper-understanding-album-review-2128365|title=The War On Drugs – 'A Deeper Understanding'|journal=NME|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist)}}

| rev6 = The Observer

| rev6score= {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/27/war-on-drugs-deeper-understanding-observer-review|title=The War on Drugs: A Deeper Understanding review – deeper but not darker|work=The Observer|date=August 27, 2017|access-date=August 30, 2017|last=Snapes|first=Laura}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.7/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding/|title=The War on Drugs: A Deeper Understanding|work=Pitchfork|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=August 25, 2017|last=Richardson|first=Mark}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Medicine Man|journal=Q|issue=376|date=September 2017|last=Segal|first=Victoria|page=104}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-the-war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding-w499116|title=A Deeper Understanding|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017|last=Hermes|first=Will|author-link=Will Hermes}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10score = 8/10{{cite journal|title=The War on Drugs: A Deeper Understanding|journal=Uncut|issue=244|date=September 2017|last=Anderson|first=Jason|page=24}}

}}

A Deeper Understanding received acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 81, based on 33 reviews, indicating universal acclaim. According to Marcy Donelson of AllMusic, A Deeper Understanding "reclaims and explores the distinctive soundscapes, vastness, and haunted psyche of Lost in the Dream, and that in itself is significant." On the same site, in a readers' poll by users it was ranked as the #1 album of 2017.{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/the-2017-allmusic-readers-poll|title=The 2017 AllMusic Readers' Poll|website=AllMusic }} Mark Richardson of Pitchfork noted similarities with mid-'80s rock, stating it is "also a fascinating study in influence; it’s hard to think of a band with more obvious touchstones that also sounds so original." Michael Bonner of Uncut Magazine described it as "some of the richest, most compelling and least lonely-sounding music of Granduciel’s career".{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/war-drugs-deeper-understanding|title=The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding|work=Uncut Magazine|date=August 29, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2017|last=Bonner|first=Michael|archive-date=August 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827105147/https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/war-drugs-deeper-understanding|url-status=dead}}

In a less enthusiastic review for Slant Magazine, Josh Goller noted "the album's lyrics, however, can’t match this same level of musical precision, and Granduciel too often repeats the same vague sentiments using threadbare imagery."{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/the-war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding|title=The War on Drugs: A Deeper Understanding|work=Slant Magazine|date=August 10, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2017|last=Goller|first=Josh}} The album's title was influenced by Kate Bush's song with the same name.{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11913341|title=Album review: The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding|last=Fenwick|first=George|date=August 31, 2017|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=July 27, 2019|issn=1170-0777}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/classic-rock/20171201/281878708682932|title=THE WAR ON DRUGS|last=Rees|first=Paul|date=December 1, 2017|website=Classic Rock|access-date=July 27, 2019}}

It was nominated for International Album of the Year at the 2018 UK Americana Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/music-news/robert-plant-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-at-uk-americana-awards-2018/|title=Robert Plant to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at UK Americana Awards 2018|last=Ellwood-Hughes|first=Pip|date=November 8, 2017|website=Entertainment Focus|access-date=July 27, 2019}}

At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, A Deeper Understanding won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8096569/grammys-2018-winners-list|publisher= Billboard|title=Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List|first= Katie|last=Atkinson|date=January 28, 2018|access-date=August 24, 2018}}

All words by Adam Granduciel. All music by Granduciel, except where noted.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Up All Night

| length1 = 6:23

| title2 = Pain

| length2 = 5:30

| title3 = Holding On

| music3 = {{hlist|Granduciel|Robbie Bennett}}

| length3 = 5:50

| title4 = Strangest Thing

| length4 = 6:40

| title5 = Knocked Down

| length5 = 4:00

| title6 = Nothing to Find

| length6 = 6:10

| title7 = Thinking of a Place

| length7 = 11:10

| title8 = In Chains

| length8 = 7:20

| title9 = Clean Living

| length9 = 6:28

| title10 = You Don't Have to Go

| length10 = 6:42

| total_length = 66:13

}}

The War on Drugs

• Robbie Bennett – Prophet 12 {{small|(tracks 1, 7)}}, piano {{small|(2–4, 8, 10)}}, celeste {{small|(3, 9)}}, backing vocals {{small|(4)}}, Hammond Organ {{small|(9)}}, Rhodes {{small|(9)}}, Baldwin Organ {{small|(10)}}
• Adam Granduciel – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}, LinnDrum {{small|(1)}}, samplers {{small|(1)}}, Yamaha CS-5 {{small|(1)}}, piano {{small|(1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9)}}, electric guitars {{small|(1, 3, 5, 8–10)}}, Wurlitzer {{small|(1, 4, 5, 7, 10)}}, Mellotron {{small|(1, 5)}}, Hammond Organ {{small|(1, 6)}}, E70 Organ {{small|(2)}}, Nashville guitars {{small|(2)}}, acoustic guitars {{small|(2–4, 6–10)}}, lead electric guitars {{small|(2, 4, 6, 7)}}, vibes {{small|(2, 5, 7)}}, celeste {{small|(2, 7)}}, Juno 106 {{small|(2, 7)}}, synthesizers {{small|(3, 6)}}, bass guitar {{small|(4)}}, Korg Trident {{small|(4)}}, harmonica {{small|(4, 6–10)}}, percussion {{small|(4, 8)}}, Arp Solina {{small|(4, 8, 9)}}, Prophet 5 {{small|(4, 9, 10)}}, PolyKorg {{small|(5)}}, drums {{small|(6, 8)}}, Vox Jaguar {{small|(7)}}, Roland Juno-60 {{small|(7–9)}}, organ {{small|(8)}}, tape loops {{small|(8)}}, Vox Organ {{small|(9)}}
• Charlie Hall – drums {{small|(1, 2, 7, 8)}}, percussion {{small|(1, 2, 7, 10)}}, backing vocals {{small|(4)}}, electric guitar {{small|(4)}}, vibes {{small|(8)}}
• Dave Hartley – bass guitar {{small|(1–4, 6, 8)}}, glockenspiel {{small|(3)}}, acoustic guitar {{small|(4)}}, backing vocals {{small|(4)}}, fretless bass {{small|(5, 7, 10)}}, Höfner bass {{small|(9)}}
• Anthony LaMarca – electric guitar {{small|(2, 4, 8, 9)}}, slide guitar {{small|(3)}}, backing vocals {{small|(4)}}, drums {{small|(5)}}, acoustic guitar {{small|(7)}}
• Jon Natchez – baritone saxophone {{small|(1, 2, 8–10)}}

Additional musicians

• Patrick Berkery – drums {{small|(3, 9)}}, percussion {{small|(3, 8, 9)}}
• Michael Bloch – electric rhythm guitar {{small|(3, 7)}}, electric guitar {{small|(6, 9)}}
• Meg Duffy – slide guitar {{small|(3, 9)}}
• Max Hart – Prophet 6 {{small|(3)}}, Oberheim Expander {{small|(3)}}, pedal steel {{small|(7)}}
• Otto Hauser – drums, percussion {{small|(10)}}
• Darren Jessee – drums, percussion {{small|(4)}}
• Michael Johnson – Arp Odyssey {{small|(1, 10)}}
• Josh Kauffman – amplified voice {{small|(8)}}, electric guitar {{small|(8, 10)}}
• Parker Kindred – percussion {{small|(9)}}
• Sterling Laws – drums, percussion {{small|(6)}}
• Lucius (Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig) – backing vocals {{small|(2)}}
• Carter Tanton – acoustic guitar {{small|(5)}}
• The Dove & The Wolf (Louise Hayat & Paloma Gil) – backing vocals {{small|(7, 10)}}

Technical

• Adam Granduciel – production, recording
• Shawn Everett – recording, mixing
• Nick Krill, Daniel Schlett, Nicolas Vernhes, Gabe Cox Wax and Jeff Zeigler – additional recording
• Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound Studios

Artwork and design

• Adam Granduciel – art direction
• Rob Carmichael – art direction, design
• Shawn Brackbill – center booklet photograph
• Dusdin Condren – photography

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{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Belgium|artist=War on drugs|title=A deeper understanding|award=Gold|certyear=2018|certmonth=9|relyear=2017|relmonth=8}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|artist=War on drugs|title=A deeper understanding|award=Gold|certyear=2018|relyear=2017}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=War on drugs|title=A deeper understanding|award=Silver|certyear=2020|relyear=2017|id=16470-3980-2|accessdate=June 19, 2020}}

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{{reflist}}

{{The War on Drugs}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Album}}

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Category:2017 albums

Category:The War on Drugs (band) albums

Category:Albums produced by Adam Granduciel

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Album

Category:Albums recorded at Electro-Vox Recording Studios