The Tired Sounds Of Stars Of The Lid – Stars Of The Lid (3xLP)

The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid is the sixth album by the ambient duo Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie, released in 2001 on Kranky. Spanning two discs, it unfolds as a series of long-form suites built from treated guitars, horns, strings, pianos, and field recordings. The music moves at a glacial pace, replacing rhythm with texture and harmony, drawing the listener into deeply immersive soundscapes that reward patience and close attention.

The record is often described as cinematic and meditative, offering subtle emotional shifts through drones that evolve gradually across its extended running time. By layering organic and electronic elements with great restraint, Stars of the Lid create a listening experience that feels both expansive and intimate, one that invites reflection and a sense of timeless calm.

“The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid finds these guys fully harnessing the power of the studio, with striking results. Strings and horns are all over this record, and the richer palate gives the drones added weight and depth.” — Pitchfork

“With their recent Kranky release, The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid, they move further into the nocturnal, unconscious territories that were charted by their work throughout the last decade.” — Dusted Magazine

“It’s the variety of instrumentation, and the willingness to engage in a more earthly, melodic, structural dynamic that makes ‘Tired Sounds Of…’ a better album than Stars of the Lid’s previous releases.” — Drowned In Sound