The Life You Save

Last updated

The Life You Save
The Life You Save.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 2025
Studio
Genre
Length50:20
Label Sub Pop
Producer Jenn Wasner
Flock of Dimes chronology
Head of Roses: Phantom Limb
(2021)
The Life You Save
(2025)
Singles from The Life You Save
  1. "Long After Midnight"
    Released: July 23, 2025
  2. "Afraid"
    Released: August 20, 2025
  3. "Defeat"
    Released: September 17, 2025

The Life You Save is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Jenn Wasner under the pseudonym Flock of Dimes, released on October 10, 2025 through Sub Pop Records. It was self-produced with additional production from Nick Sanborn. [3]

Contents

Promotion and singles

Upon the album's announcement on July 23, 2025, the lead single "Long After Midnight" was released with a music video directed by Spencer Kelly in which Wasner plays an acoustic guitar on a floor while people gradually remove all objects in her surroundings. [3] On August 20, the second single, "Afraid" was released with another video directed by Kelly. [4] Then, a third single, "Defeat", was revealed on September 17. The song, which had written roughly three years prior, was accompanied by a video directed by Sabrina Nichols with editing by Kelly. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 82/100 [6]
Review scores
SourceRating
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Paste 7.3/10 [7]
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [8]
Uncut 8/10 [9]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , The Life You Save received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 4 critic scores. [6]

In Uncut magazine, Piers Martin said that "Wasner is clear-eyed and unflinching on third album The Life You Save about her ongoing 'struggle within the cycles of addiction and codependency'", praising her in an 8 out of 10 review for approaching the subject with an "effortless warmth". [9] Andrew Ha of Paste similarly cited a "warmth" to the record and called Wasner's "clarion voice ... both tender and resolute, revealing vulnerability while holding herself—and others—to a new standard." [7] In a four star review for Mojo magazine, Martin Aston lauded the album's coupling of "gorgeous melodies" and Wasner's "glowing vibrato", comparing her vocal performance to that of "a young Lucinda Williams" and stating that The Life You Save was at its best on the track "Not Yet Free". [2] Laura Snapes thought that the "bold choice" in taking a more acoustic and folk-inclined approach was "fitting" given the record's intimate subject matter. Snapes further commented that it felt "safe, not in the sense of risk-aversion, but in the way Wasner creates a tender space in which to dismantle what had seemed so sure" in her life. [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jenn Wasner. [10]

The Life You Save track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Afraid"3:41
2."Keep Me in the Dark"4:27
3."Long After Midnight"2:51
4."Defeat"4:18
5."Close to Home"4:39
6."The Enemy"3:21
7."Not Yet Free"4:17
8."Pride"4:57
9."Theo"3:46
10."Instead of Calling"3:49
11."River in My Arms"5:21
12."I Think I'm God"4:53
Total length:50:20

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the vinyl liner notes. [1]

Musicians

Technical and design

References

  1. 1 2 Flock of Dimes (2025). The Life You Save (Vinyl liner notes). Sub Pop. SP1595.
  2. 1 2 3 Aston, Martin (October 15, 2025). "Filter Albums: Flock of Dimes – The Life You Save". Mojo . No. 385 (December 2025). London: H Bauer Publishing. p. 84. ISSN   1351-0193.
  3. 1 2 Corcoran, Nina (July 23, 2025). "Flock of Dimes Announces Tour and New Album, Shares Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  4. Deville, Chris (August 20, 2025). "Flock Of Dimes – 'Afraid'". Stereogum . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  5. Stickler, Jon (September 17, 2025). "Flock Of Dimes Posts New Single Defeat". Stereoboard. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "The Life You Save by Flock of Dimes". Metacritic . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Ha, Andrew (October 10, 2025). "Flock of Dimes Lets Go On The Life You Save". Paste . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (October 14, 2025). "Albums: The Life You Save – Flock of Dimes". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Martin, Piers (September 12, 2025). "New Albums: Flock of Dimes – The Life You Save (Sub Pop)". Uncut . No. 344 (November 2025). Yalding, Kent, England: Kelsey Media. pp. 32–33. ISSN   1368-0722.
  10. "The Life You Save / Flock Of Dimes / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved September 28, 2025.