Let Go And Give This One A Chance
Written: Feb 10 '03 (Updated Feb 10 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: This album (and band progression) took me completely by surprise
Cons: The word may not get out quick enough on this band of 'yesteryear'
The Bottom Line: Nada Surf shrug off all expectations and deliver a knock-out punch with this well written album.
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| e_burrell's Full Review: Let Go - Nada Surf Movies |
After hearing the song "Popular" years ago I turned up my nose and completely ignored any and all output from Nada Surf, this seemingly non-talent joke band. In retrospect (and after listening to their newest album Let Go), it seems that may have been a dire mistake.
I stumbled upon Let Go after letting a friend borrow some of my Grandaddy albums. When I asked him what he thought about the Grandaddy his response was, "They sound a lot like Nada Surf." At first I scoffed at this - having not even heard the name Nada Surf since my days in high school, I wasn't sure how on earth he could even begin to compare the two bands. As I listened to Let Go for the first time I was amazed at how good it was - and yes, I could see the intelligence of Grandaddy in this music.
Let Go also has a lot in common with Warren Zanes' forthcoming album Memory Girls (The review for that one can be found at this link:(http://www.epinions.com/content_89375673988) in that it does such a good job recalling a warm, retro rock feeling without giving off the least derivative vibe. It seems to be the consensus of Nada Surf fans that the songwriting and musicianship on Let Go far surpasses any of their previous output by leaps and bounds. I've heard that this is their best album (although I am now going to go back and give their older stuff another try).
"Blizzard Of '77", the first tune on Let Go is an all acoustic guitar and harmonies tune about missing someone you love - it's an enchanting track and is perhaps the perfect way to open this album. "The Way You Wear Your Head" is more of a straight-ahead rocker, with more great harmonies and great buzzing electric guitar riffs.
"Fruit Fly" is another acoustic offering in the spirit of The Flaming Lips and Grandaddy - a song that sounds like a rough demo until the polished chorus comes crashing in - and everything seems to fit. "Blonde On Blonde" opens up with some sweet nothings on the electric guitar - a tribute to listening to Dylan's classic album as the world goes by. Perhaps my favorite tune on the album, this is one not be missed.
"High Speed Soul" rolls with a disco beat and crunchy Kinks guitar licks, while "Killian's Red" is all minor chords and foreboding bass and drumlines. "Happy Kid" is about being childlike but having lost your innocence. It's another great pop song - but with a lot of heart and a deeper meaning. "Run" is another galloping rock tune with garbage can drums and distorted melodies.
"Neither Heaven Nor Space" and "End Credits" are both slower tunes that end the album up nicely - the latter sounding somewhat like a jangling Jayhawks song, where we learn "This movie has got to end...".
Nada Surf has blended the best elements from a ton of good bands (most notable in my opinion, The Flaming Lips and Grandaddy). Their music is deceptively simple, that is, it sounds like simple sunshine pop in many places but there's true depth here and even an air of sadness. Gone are the simple and inane days of tunes like "Popular" - I welcome this new chapter in 'The Book Of Nada Surf', and hopefully you will too.
OVERALL GRADE: B
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
e_burrell
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Member: Eli Burrell
Location: Little Rock, AR
Reviews written: 253
Trusted by: 225 members
About Me:
Just trying to walk forward on this big old ball of dirt and water.
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