Angel Olsen
Forever Means
JAGJAGUWAR
On Angel Olsen’s Forever Means EP, her follow-up to 2022’s Big Time full-length, she revisits ideas from that project while begging the question of “what does ‘forever’ mean?” within the context of love and friendships. Olsen mulls over how we’re constantly growing, and how we can go about adapting the idea of “forever” into our ever-changing lives. In the four songs that make up the EP, Olsen goes into depth about her thoughts in a way that lets the listener get lost in her head for a little while.
On opener “Nothing’s Free,” Olsen begins her answer to the EP’s thesis question by outwardly implying that forever doesn’t account for change. The lyrics are accompanied by a bluesy instrumental, with Olsen’s voice echoing, giving the impression that she’s alone in an empty room. Accompanied by beautiful piano notes and a strong saxophone, the bluesy aspect of the song is inherent in how she comes to terms with the fact that change is inevitable—but what does that mean when people say “yes, we will be friends forever”? Our concepts of “forever” often become hyperbole to satisfy us in the present, it seems, but not actually forever.
On the title track, Olsen’s definition of the term isn’t what one would expect. That’s the point, though—in the many ways that she describes forever, she relates them each to change and personal growth. “Forever means take your time,” she sings, which seems like a way to remind people to focus on themselves. Meanwhile, on “Time Bandits,” Olsen examines time and the feeling of “right now”—the fear of losing time more broadly juxtaposed with losing time with an individual person, specifically how that can make one’s hunger for the person grow. Finally, on “Holding On,” we get fully entranced into Olsen’s thoughts, as if her lyrics in the song were stream-of-consciousness literature. As she takes us through every moment, we’re just along for the ride. She describes holding onto grudges, which always feel like they’ll linger forever.
By the end of the EP, Olsen has examined exactly what the title promises, taking the listener through her personal understandings and experiences. It’s kind of frightening to realize that we’re just satisfying ourselves in the moment, but the piece also feels conclusive. Forever Means provides a way to think about how we perceive relationships, friendships, connections, and memories, while Olsen shows subtle growth as an artist, musician, and individual.
