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
Anaïs 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
Anaïs 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