2008 Woodie Awards
Nada Surf's Lucky well-crafted but bland
Caity Cudworth
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Entertainment
03/13/08 - Nada Surf is perhaps best known for its 1996 hit "Popular," a pre- "Mean Girls" primer on the high school pecking order. That song made Nada Surf sort-of-famous and the band managed to ride that wave of success for a year or so before being dropped by its label. Then they slipped back below the radar to toil in the thankless (ie: less lucrative) world of the indie underground.
It's kind of like the opposite of the typical independent band success story. The lead singer actually ended up working at a record store for a while - a situation that sounds like the plot of some sort of bad romantic comedy.
Nada Surf's latest offering is Lucky, a musical balancing act that is at once upbeat and mopey. It's big on emotion - but without being slit-your-wrists whiny. Somehow this all comes together into an 11-song whole that's laden with imagery and lyricism but, unfortunately, lacking in substance.
The main problem with Lucky is that it doesn't offer much in terms of variety. The songs blur together, which makes it somewhat of a chore to pick standout tracks. Alternating between rambling guitars and softly repetitive piano chords, the album is basically a pleasant 42. 7 minute nap.
Tracks like "Beautiful Beat," showcase jangly piano and guitar riffs. The song is a sweet - if sappy - tribute to the power of music. "Beautiful beat get me out of this mess. Beautiful beat lift me up from distress," the band sings.
Alas, it's kind of unconvincing - probably because this song is one of the weakest on the album. Music's great and all, but don't cancel your therapy sessions just yet. Harmonizing is no substitute for Prozac.
"See These Bones" is better. The sound is tighter and more cohesive, and, also, the lyrics contain a few references to sharks, which is awesome. I mean, sharks are the only animals that have an entire week devoted to them. There's a reason why there's no such thing as "Goat Week."
But because the song also contains multiple references to "Jets" I'm thinking this is probably a reference the less-cool kind of shark: the kind from "Westside Story" that dances and snaps a lot. The kind of "shark" that would probably be a tasty snack for a real shark. Choreography won't get you anywhere in the food chain. Six-inch razor-sharp teeth, however, are a different story.
It's kind of like the opposite of the typical independent band success story. The lead singer actually ended up working at a record store for a while - a situation that sounds like the plot of some sort of bad romantic comedy.
Nada Surf's latest offering is Lucky, a musical balancing act that is at once upbeat and mopey. It's big on emotion - but without being slit-your-wrists whiny. Somehow this all comes together into an 11-song whole that's laden with imagery and lyricism but, unfortunately, lacking in substance.
The main problem with Lucky is that it doesn't offer much in terms of variety. The songs blur together, which makes it somewhat of a chore to pick standout tracks. Alternating between rambling guitars and softly repetitive piano chords, the album is basically a pleasant 42. 7 minute nap.
Tracks like "Beautiful Beat," showcase jangly piano and guitar riffs. The song is a sweet - if sappy - tribute to the power of music. "Beautiful beat get me out of this mess. Beautiful beat lift me up from distress," the band sings.
Alas, it's kind of unconvincing - probably because this song is one of the weakest on the album. Music's great and all, but don't cancel your therapy sessions just yet. Harmonizing is no substitute for Prozac.
"See These Bones" is better. The sound is tighter and more cohesive, and, also, the lyrics contain a few references to sharks, which is awesome. I mean, sharks are the only animals that have an entire week devoted to them. There's a reason why there's no such thing as "Goat Week."
But because the song also contains multiple references to "Jets" I'm thinking this is probably a reference the less-cool kind of shark: the kind from "Westside Story" that dances and snaps a lot. The kind of "shark" that would probably be a tasty snack for a real shark. Choreography won't get you anywhere in the food chain. Six-inch razor-sharp teeth, however, are a different story.