Lost and Safe

"Lost and Safe," the third studio album by American musical duo The Books, was released on April 5, 2005, under Tomlab records. Similar to their previous work, the album features extensive sampling from diverse sources, including Raymond Baxter, W.H. Auden's poem "Woods," and Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." One track, "Venice," samples a bonus recording from a 1966 opera record describing a Salvador Dalí event in Venice. The album's eclectic sampling style is attributed to using recordings found in used "bargain bin" records. Alongside these direct samples, the duo incorporated interpolated vocal passages performed by Nick Zammuto. The album also marked a shift toward more linear song structures, aiming to make the music更适合现场表演.

Critically acclaimed, "Lost and Safe" received widespread praise, with a Metacritic score of 84 out of 100, indicating universal acclaim. David Serra of AllMusic described it as a "rewarding listen," while The Wire named it the best album of 2005.