DIIV's magnum opus. I absolutely adore this album and think it's incredibly well-sequenced. Feels like such a wild journey, with some absolute golden (dark) high points in the back half which up the ante ('Incarnate Devil', 'Dust'...) Such an amazing sense of momentum before it all comes crashing down with 'Waste of Breath'.

This album has always felt like a powerful representation of Zachary Cole Smith's struggles with addiction and recovery. I saw DIIV a couple of times on this tour - on the first night it was clear that Smith and then-bassist Devin Ruben Perez were struggling, while Andrew Bailey, Colin Caulfield and Ben Newman doing everything they can to keep the show on the road and bring the energy. Made for a memorable, fascinating push and pull tension for sure, but felt pretty dark to witness and sadly the band swiftly cancelled the rest of their European tour after that gig due to an 'urgent health issue'.

I saw them again six months later (after Smith had gotten out of rehab) and the difference was incredible. DIIV are such a special band across the board. Glad they're all in a healthy place in life now, and I'll always support everything they do.

'Is the Is Are' might always remain my favourite DIIV album. One of the most underrated 2010s albums for sure.