Heaven Is a Junkyard

Heaven Is a Junkyard marks the 2023 resurrection of Trevor Powers' Youth Lagoon project after a seven-year hiatus. The album's genesis is inseparable from Powers' harrowing medical experience in 2021, where a severe drug reaction caused chronic acid reflux that severely damaged his vocal cords, leaving him unable to speak for months. This period of forced silence shifted his perspective from the cosmic abstractions of his previous work to the hyper-local stories of his home state, Idaho. Produced alongside Rodaidh McDonald, the record strips away the 'dream pop' haze of the past in favor of a 'mutant Americana' sound. It features traditional instruments like lap steel and bass harmonica alongside found sounds and electronic glitches. Lyrically, it is a 'God-haunted' exploration of family trauma, drug use, and the resilience of the human spirit. The album received universal acclaim, notably earning 'Best New Music' from Pitchfork, and is considered Powers' most mature and confident work to date.