“Eyes Are at the Billions” provides a perfect example of how one moment can make a song. The track starts off pleasantly enough, as a softly plucked acoustic guitar, muffled keyboard and Tidwell’s light, airy voice create a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere. But at 1:58, a drum cracks, the acoustic guitar spills forth with some hard strumming and then — out of nowhere — a spiraling burst of electric noise crashes through and breaks everything wide open. It’s a gorgeous, dramatic moment and one that raises the song — from Tidwell’s 2006 debut, “Don’t Let the Stars Keep Us Tangled Up” — from good to great.
— David Marchese
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