Lost in the Dream

After The War on Drugs' second album Slave Ambient was released to much critical acclaim, primary songwriter Adam Granduciel spent much of 2011 touring. After the tour was finished, Granduciel had a hard time adjusting to everyday life, later recounting that such feelings "started to spiral into emotional distress and physical manifestations of depression and paranoia."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/13/the-war-on-drugs-adam-granduciel-lost-in-the-dream |title=After depression and paranoia, the War on Drugs' Adam Granduciel is happy to get Lost in the Dream |work=The Guardian |date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2014 |last=Hann |first=Michael}} This depression and paranoia served as an inspiration to the lyrical theme of Lost in the Dream.{{cite web |url=http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/the-war-on-drugs-142586/2 |title=Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs: "I was mostly dealing with total loneliness, paranoia, and total isolation" |publisher=The Line of Best Fit |date=December 4, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |last=Briggs |first=Sam |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331011501/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/the-war-on-drugs-142586/2 |url-status=live }}

Recording on the album began in the summer of 2012 and took place over a two-year period in Philadelphia, New York City, North Carolina, and New Jersey.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/53210-the-war-on-drugs-announce-new-album-lost-in-the-dream-share-red-eyes-plot-tour/ |title=The War on Drugs Announce New Album Lost in the Dream, Share "Red Eyes", Plot Tour |website=Pitchfork |date=December 5, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |last=Minsker |first=Evan}} Granduciel wrote all the songs on the album. The album's recording was characterized by Granduciel's anxiety and second-guessing, with Granduciel remarking "I started going off the rails a little bit in my own head, getting a little too sucked in."

Songs on the album went through several versions. Granduciel scrapped the original demo for "An Ocean in Between the Waves" two weeks before the album was supposed to be turned in to the record company after spending a year writing the song, saying that "it wasn't the vibe of the song that I was searching for."{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1668412/through-the-haze-the-struggles-visions-and-revelations-of-the-war-on-drugs/franchises/interview/ |title=Through The Haze: The Struggles, Visions, And Revelations Of The War On Drugs |website=Stereogum |date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 |last=Leas |first=Ryan}}{{cite web |url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-war-on-drugs-gets-ready-to-play-the-big-rooms/ |title=The War on Drugs Gets Ready to Play the Big Rooms |publisher=Grantland |date=February 26, 2014 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |last=Hyden |first=Steven}} "Suffering" went through several variations before Granduciel decided to go back to the original demo.

The music on Lost in the Dream is inspired by 1980s rock, as well as Americana and Krautrock.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/16/lost-in-dream-war-on-drugs-adam-granduciel |title=Lost in the Dream review – the War on Drugs turn 80s arena rock into something more intriguing |work=The Observer |date=March 15, 2014 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |last=Empire |first=Kitty |author-link=Kitty Empire}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/29/year-music-critics-war-on-drugs |title=The year music critics surrendered to the War on Drugs |work=The Guardian |date=December 29, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2015 |last=Simpson |first=Dave}} Artists who have been cited as influences on the album's overall sound include Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, The Waterboys and Spacemen 3. The album's sound is characterized by synthesizers, keyboards, horns and "ambient guitars". Whereas the previous albums by The War on Drugs contained several instrumental tracks, Lost in the Dream only has one instrumental track, "The Haunting Idle".

Critics have compared the song "Burning" to Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" and Rod Stewart's "Young Turks". Fleetwood Mac's influence was noted on "An Ocean in Between the Waves", while Pitchfork compared "Disappearing" to Tears for Fears' "Pale Shelter".

"Under the Pressure" is based on Adam Granduciel and how he split with his girlfriend and was feeling alone and depressed after being back in the city.{{Cite news |last=music |first=Guardian |date=2014-08-20 |title=Watch the War on Drugs' new video Under the Pressure - premiere |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/20/watch-the-war-on-drugs-new-video-under-the-pressure-premiere |access-date=2024-04-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

The album cover features an image of Adam Granduciel standing in front of a window in his home. Granduciel commented on how the album's artwork was a reflection of his involvement in the recording process, saying "This wasn't a band record. This was a solo record. I knew that. They've all [The War on Drugs' albums] been solo records."

The album was announced on December 4, 2013. That same day, the first single from the album, "Red Eyes" was released. The band debuted the tracks "Under the Pressure", "Eyes to the Wind", and "Burning" during the band's December 2013 tour of Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/reviews/shows/377025/the-war-on-drugs.htm |title=28th December 2013 @ Northcote Social Club |publisher=Tone Deaf |date=January 6, 2014 |access-date=March 31, 2014 |last=Sadler |first=Denham |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407070313/http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/reviews/shows/377025/the-war-on-drugs.htm |url-status=live }} On March 5, 2014, a music video for "Red Eyes" was released.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/54223-video-the-war-on-drugs-red-eyes/ |title=Video: The War on Drugs: "Red Eyes" |website=Pitchfork |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 |last=Beauchemin |first=Molly |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329030542/http://pitchfork.com/news/54223-video-the-war-on-drugs-red-eyes/ |url-status=live }} The album was streamed in its entirety on March 10, 2014 on The Guardian{{'}}s website.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/10/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream-album-stream |title=The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream – album stream |work=The Guardian |date=March 10, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014}} On August 20, 2014, a music video for "Under the Pressure" was released.{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/08/premiere-war-on-drugs-gorgeous-new-video.html |title=Premiere: The War on Drugs' Gorgeous New Music Video for 'Under the Pressure' |publisher=Vulture.com |date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=December 15, 2014 |last=Fox |first=Jesse |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216051524/http://www.vulture.com/2014/08/premiere-war-on-drugs-gorgeous-new-video.html |url-status=live }}

As of August 2017 the album has sold more than 255,000 copies (including streaming equivalents), according to Nielsen; some 114,000 of those sales were physical.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/arts/music/war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding-interview.html|title=The War on Drugs Is Still Playing Rock the Old-Fashioned Way|website=New York Times|first=Joe|last=Coscarelli|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044032/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/arts/music/war-on-drugs-a-deeper-understanding-interview.html|url-status=live}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 8.4/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/6202/The-War-On-Drugs-Lost-In-The-Dream.aspx |title=Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=December 18, 2019}}

| MC = 86/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/lost-in-the-dream/the-war-on-drugs/ |title=Reviews for Lost In the Dream by The War on Drugs |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=March 19, 2014}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-in-the-dream-mw0002604506 |title=Lost in the Dream – The War on Drugs |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 16, 2019 |last=Thomas |first=Fred}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = A−{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/lost-dream-war-drugs-channels-musical-memories-202290 |title=On Lost In The Dream, The War On Drugs channels musical memories |website=The A.V. Club |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=December 1, 2015 |last=Brusie |first=David |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208082014/http://www.avclub.com/review/lost-dream-war-drugs-channels-musical-memories-202290 |url-status=live }}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/13/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream-review |title=The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream review – 'A dash of Springsteen romance in motorik grooves' |work=The Guardian |date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=December 1, 2015 |last=Dennis |first=Jon}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-the-war-on-drugs-lou-adler-woo-rick-ross-sisyphus-9189834.html |title=Album reviews: The War On Drugs, Lou Adler, Woo, Rick Ross, Sisyphus |work=The Independent |date=March 15, 2014 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |last=Gill |first=Andy |archive-date=March 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319063427/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-the-war-on-drugs-lou-adler-woo-rick-ross-sisyphus-9189834.html |url-status=live }}

| rev5 = The Irish Times

| rev5Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream-1.1722168 |title=The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=December 1, 2015 |last=Jones |first=Chris}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 9/10{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Leonie|date=March 18, 2014|title=The War On Drugs – 'Lost In The Dream'|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-war-on-drugs/15143|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208123445/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-war-on-drugs/15143|archive-date=December 8, 2015|access-date=March 19, 2014|website=NME}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.8/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19094-the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream/ |title=The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream |website=Pitchfork |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |last=Berman |first=Stuart |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321170118/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19094-the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream/ |url-status=live }}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream |journal=Q |issue=333 |date=April 2014 |page=109}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score= {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/lost-in-the-dream-20140320 |title=Lost in the Dream |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 20, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |last=Powell |first=Mike}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = 9/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/2014/03/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream-spin-essential/ |title=The War on Drugs Conjure a Gorgeous, Wide-Open Claustrophobia on 'Lost in the Dream' |journal=Spin |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |last=Menconi |first=David |archive-date=February 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220073002/http://www.spin.com/2014/03/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream-spin-essential/ |url-status=live }}

}}

Lost in the Dream received acclaim from contemporary music critics. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 86 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Pitchfork{{'}}s Stuart Berman gave Lost in the Dream a "Best New Music" designation and remarked that the album is "loaded with songs whose greatness is revealed slowly, where the simplest, most understated chord change can blow a track wide open and elevate it from simply pretty to absolutely devastating." AllMusic's Fred Thomas called Lost in the Dream "the War on Drugs' Daydream Nation or Disintegration" and wrote of the album: "It's a near flawless collection of dreamy vibes, shifting moods, and movement, and stands easily as Granduciel's finest hour so far." Dan Caffrey of Consequence of Sound felt that over repeated plays of the album, one gradually realizes "that Granduciel is discovering the problems of his life, not figuring them out or even reflecting on them. This all makes for an album that truly sounds like it's coming to life."{{cite web |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/03/album-review-the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream/ |title=The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream |website=Consequence of Sound |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |last=Caffrey |first=Dan |archive-date=March 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319015547/http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/03/album-review-the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream/ |url-status=live }} Ross Horton of musicOMH called Lost in the Dream "a tender, inviting, consoling, comforting record that you'll play again and again (stoned or not)" and "perfect in every way".{{cite web |url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/war-drugs-lost-dream |title=The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream |publisher=musicOMH |date=March 12, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |last=Horton |first=Ross |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318044701/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/war-drugs-lost-dream |url-status=live }}

While stating that Lost in the Dream fails to consistently live up to its peak moments, Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune nonetheless concluded that Granduciel "is on to something with this more band-focused release, and that new dynamic deserves an even deeper exploration next time."{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/03/07/war-on-drugs-finds-better-chemistry/ |title=War on Drugs finds better chemistry |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 7, 2014 |access-date=December 1, 2015 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}} In a mixed assessment, Mike Powell of Rolling Stone felt that "seven-minutes-plus songs like 'In Reverse' and 'An Ocean in Between the Waves' have enough locomotion to go twice as long, while slower tracks like 'Suffering' are deadwood in search of a spark." In an otherwise positive review, Mike Walmsley of The 405 criticized the second half of the album, writing "Unfortunately, as they pass the Midwest on their road trip, the Mustang appears to have run out of gas."{{cite web|last=Walmsley|first=Mike|date=March 3, 2014|title=The War on Drugs - Lost In The Dream|url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-a-dream#.UzB_BoVBziE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419191035/https://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-a-dream|archive-date=April 19, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=The 405}} In 2019, Happy Mag placed Lost In The Dream at no.7 on their list of "The 25 best psychedelic rock albums of the 2010s", stating that it is "a shining example of starting a record with guns blazing."

Based on 139 year-end top ten lists compiled by Metacritic, Lost in the Dream was the most critically acclaimed album of 2014, appearing on 54 lists and being named first on 13 of them.{{cite web|last=Dietz|first=Jason|date=December 2, 2014|title=Best of 2014: Music Critic Top Ten Lists|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/critics-pick-top-10-albums-of-2014|access-date=December 14, 2014|publisher=Metacritic|archive-date=December 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203202026/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/critics-pick-top-10-albums-of-2014|url-status=dead}} Paste named Lost in the Dream as their album of the year, writing "from all the muck and malaise that midlife produces, something beautiful and permanent has been revealed—an enduring contribution to the canon."{{cite web|last=Danaher|first=Michael|date=December 2, 2014|title=The War on Drugs: The Album of the Year|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-war-on-drugs/the-war-on-drugs-the-album-of-the-year-1/|access-date=December 4, 2014|website=Paste|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031203422/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-war-on-drugs/the-war-on-drugs-the-album-of-the-year-1/|url-status=live}} Consequence named it their album of the year, writing "In tune with Granduciel’s way of evoking synchronicity, there’s a cosmic truth to Lost in the Dream triumphing this year. For one, Granduciel is personally seizing the crown off the head of his musical soulmate, Kurt Vile ... and, for Secretly Canadian ... it’s a poignant landmark following the year it lost its godfather, Jason Molina."{{cite web|date=December 12, 2014|title=Top 50 Albums of 2014|url=https://consequence.net/2014/12/albums-of-the-year-2014/15/|access-date=December 14, 2014|website=Consequence}} Other publications that named Lost in the Dream as album of the year included Uncut,{{cite web|date=November 26, 2014|title=The War On Drugs' Lost In The Dream named Uncut's Album Of The Year 2014|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/the-war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dream-named-uncut-s-album-of-the-year-2014-1582/|access-date=December 4, 2014|website=Uncut}} Q and Under the Radar.{{cite web|last=Fink|first=Matt|date=December 12, 2014|title=The War on Drugs – Adam Granduciel on Under the Radar's #1 Album of 2014|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/the_war_on_drugs_adam_granduciel_on_under_the_radar_best_album_2014|access-date=December 13, 2014|website=Under the Radar|archive-date=December 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213123555/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/the_war_on_drugs_adam_granduciel_on_under_the_radar_best_album_2014|url-status=live}} The album was ranked #2 on Mojo's,{{cite web|date=November 21, 2014|title=MOJO's 50 Best Albums Of 2014: The Final Score|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/17483/50-best-albums-2014-final-score/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028034257/https://www.mojo4music.com/17483/50-best-albums-2014-final-score/|archive-date=October 28, 2017|access-date=December 2, 2014|website=Mojo}} American Songwriter{{'}}s,{{cite web|date=November 24, 2014|title=American Songwriter's Top 50 Albums of 2014: Presented by D'Addario|url=https://americansongwriter.com/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-2014/5/|access-date=December 7, 2014|website=American Songwriter|page=5|archive-date=September 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918233720/https://americansongwriter.com/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-2014/5/|url-status=live}} musicOMH{{'}}s,{{cite web|last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=December 6, 2014|title=musicOMH's Top 100 Albums Of 2014|url=https://www.musicomh.com/features/lists/musicomhs-top-100-albums-2014|access-date=December 7, 2014|website=musicOMH|archive-date=March 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330034623/https://www.musicomh.com/features/lists/musicomhs-top-100-albums-2014|url-status=live}} Stereogum{{'}}s{{cite web|last=Stamets|first=Maggie|date=November 24, 2014|title=The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1721100/the-50-best-albums-of-2014/photo/attachment/wodlp3-11298covertext-5/|access-date=December 4, 2014|website=Stereogum}} and The Guardian{{'}}s best albums of the year list for 2014.{{cite web|last=Virtue|first=Graeme|date=December 11, 2014|title=Best albums of 2014: No 2 – Lost in the Dream by the War on Drugs|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/dec/11/best-albums-of-2014-no-2-lost-in-the-dream-by-the-war-on-drugs|access-date=December 13, 2014|website=The Guardian}} The album was ranked the 103rd greatest indie rock album of all time by Melophobe in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All Time |url=https://www.melophobemusic.com/post/top-100-greatest-indie-rock-albums-of-all-time |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=www.melophobemusic.com |archive-date=2023-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610191548/https://www.melophobemusic.com/post/top-100-greatest-indie-rock-albums-of-all-time |url-status=live }}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Adam Granduciel, except "Disappearing" by Granduciel and Michael Johnson

| title1 = Under the Pressure

| length1 = 8:52

| title2 = Red Eyes

| length2 = 4:58

| title3 = Suffering

| length3 = 6:02

| title4 = An Ocean in Between the Waves

| length4 = 7:10

| title5 = Disappearing

| length5 = 6:50

| title6 = Eyes to the Wind

| length6 = 5:55

| title7 = The Haunting Idle

| length7 = 3:08

| title8 = Burning

| length8 = 5:46

| title9 = Lost in the Dream

| length9 = 4:10

| title10 = In Reverse

| length10 = 7:40

| total_length = 60:31

}}

The following people contributed to Lost in the Dream:{{cite web|title=Lost in the Dream - The War on Drugs {{!}} Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-in-the-dream-mw0002604506/credits|access-date=March 30, 2014|publisher=AllMusic}}

;The War on Drugs

• Adam Granduciel – vocals {{small|(1–6, 8–10)}}, electric guitar {{small|(1–4, 6–10)}}, piano {{small|(1, 3, 5, 9–10)}}, synthesizer {{small|(1, 3–5, 8–10)}}, MS16 Dubs {{small|(1)}}, acoustic guitar {{small|(2, 4, 6, 8–10)}}, Mitch Easter's Hagstrom 12 strings {{small|(2)}}, ARP string synthesizer {{small|(2)}}, Black Box guitar {{small|(3)}}, Wurlitzer {{small|(3)}}, Fender Rhodes {{small|(3)}}, Flux guitars {{small|(4)}}, organ {{small|(4, 8)}}, electric Firebird guitars {{small|(5)}}, slide guitar {{small|(5)}}, Space Wurlitzer {{small|(5)}}, drums {{small|(5, 8)}}, Linn Drum {{small|(5)}}, harmonica {{small|(5–6, 8–9)}}, Space Rhodes {{small|(6)}}, ARP Omni II {{small|(6)}}, Oberheim {{small|(7)}}, percussion {{small|(8–10)}}, Fun Machine {{small|(9)}}, Publison {{small|(10)}}
• Dave Hartley – bass {{small|(1, 3–4, 6, 8–10)}}, fretless bass {{small|(2)}}, percussion {{small|(2)}}, Mutron II Bass {{small|(5)}}
• Charlie Hall – drums {{small|(1, 6, 10)}}, percussion {{small|(1, 10)}}
• Jon Natchez – baritone saxophone {{small|(1–2, 6)}}
• Robbie Bennett – upright piano {{small|(2, 6)}}, organ {{small|(2)}}, Mutron Rhodes {{small|(4)}}, Flux Wurlitzer {{small|(5)}}, grand piano {{small|(6)}}, ARP String Synthesizer {{small|(6)}}, piano {{small|(8, 10)}}, Wurlitzer {{small|(9)}}

; Additional musicians

• Michael Johnson – ARP 2600 {{small|(1, 5)}}, Eventide Cascades {{small|(7)}}
• Pat Berkery – drums {{small|(2–3)}}
• Ricky Ray Jackson – pedal steel guitar {{small|(3, 6)}}
• Joseph Shabason – saxophone {{small|(3, 6)}}
• Nicolas Vernhes – organ {{small|(3)}}, tambourine {{small|(10)}}
• Jon Ashley – drums {{small|(tracks 4, 9)}}
• David Fishkin – saxophone {{small|(4)}}
• Jeff Ziegler – pitch transposer {{small|(5)}}, additional drum programming {{small|(5)}}
• Mike Sobel – lap steel guitar {{small|(6)}}
• Paul Sukeena – black Strat {{small|(7)}}
• Mike Sneeringer – inadvertent drums {{small|(8)}}
• Gabe Wax – tape flangin' {{small|(8)}}
• Carter Tanton – Leslie guitar {{small|(9)}}

Per the album liner notes:{{cite web |title=The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream (2014, CD) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5494441-The-War-On-Drugs-Lost-In-The-Dream |website=Discogs |access-date=26 August 2024}}

{{div col|colwidth=35em}}

• Adam Granduciel – producer, arranger, additional engineering, mixing, art direction, photography
• Jeff Zeigler – additional production, most engineering, pre-mixing, mixing {{small|(4, 5, 7)}}
• Nicolas Vernhes – mixing, additional engineering
• Gabe Wax – assistant mix engineer
• Jon Low – additional engineering
• Brad Bell – additional engineering
• Michael Johnson – additional engineering
• Jon Ashley – assistant engineer
• Sean Kelly – assistant engineer
• Ted Richardson – assistant engineer
• Matt Schimelfenig – assistant engineer
• Greg Calbi – mastering
• Steve Fallone – additional mastering engineer
• Dustin Condren – cover photo, photography
• Daniel Murphy – design, layout

{{div col end}}

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Lost in the Dream|artist=The War on Drumgs|type=album|award=Gold|id=13085-3980-2|certyear=2015|certmonth=7}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{The War on Drugs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2014 albums

Category:The War on Drugs (band) albums

Category:Secretly Canadian albums

Category:Albums produced by Adam Granduciel

Category:Libera Award for Record of the Year

Category:Albums recorded at Fidelitorium