Raw, unfiltered and reminiscent of the best of Alanis Morissette, “Two Hands,” the second major release this year by indie rock/folk band Big Thief, takes the listener straight to the coolest coffee bar in Portland during an autumn rain.

Adrianne Lenker, lead vocalist for Big Thief, croons on the album’s titular song, “Two Hands,” “And the more that we try to figure through the answers, to repeat ourselves, to deny, deny,” bringing the audience on a journey of vulnerability, nostalgia and freedom. These lyrics are one of the many poetic moments on the album that showcase Lenker’s fairy-like vocals.

Lenker is accompanied by Buck Meek (guitar, backup vocals), Max Oleartchik (bass) and James Krivchenia (drums). Despite Lenker’s voice dominating the track, the rest of the band gets to shine in long instrumental breaks. Each song ends with a few measures of pure instrumentals, or with several beats of silence, to help the audience focus on the message of the music itself.

The band is based in Brooklyn and has released four studio albums in the last three years. All of which have received critical acclaim for the uniqueness of their sound and the sensitivity of their lyrics. This most recent album has been called the “Earth twin” to the cosmic energy of their previous album, “U.F.O.F.;” this duality represents the wide range of sound to expect from the group.

Meandering lyrics flow into one another as Lenker’s voice soars and falls with emotion. The energy of a live performance is captured with all of its imperfections and quirks. Cracks in Lenker’s voice and snippets of the performers talking to each other during the takes give a sense of effortlessness to the performance, like a walk in the woods with no particular aim. The songs feel like a friend pouring their heart out without thinking about what they might say next. They are personal, visceral and filled with longing.

From the ballads of desperation in “Rock and Sing,” to the ethereal calls of the forest in “Two Hands,” to the three-minute guitar solos in “Not,” this album showcases not only the diverse styles of the group but also the diversity of their messages. The instruments are sometimes acoustic and simple and at other times powerful and full of texture. Their lyrics are expressions of instability, cries of the lonely and howls of wolves, ranging from subjects like love and loss to desperation and forgiveness. No matter what emotional journey the listener is on, they can find something to hit them in their hearts in this album.