Nada Surf - Never Not Together

Alt-Rock legends Nada Surf are back with their 9th studio album 'Never Not Together' via City Slang Records. Their last two albums, although solid, have failed to spark what was, once, a truly exciting band. Can they rediscover the magic?

After touring their classic album 'Let Go' for its 15th anniversary, chief songwriter Matthew Caws spoke of its influence:

"I think [the Let Go tour] really boosted my work ethic and made me feel like I really had to go for it." 

Recording at the legendary Rockfield Studios, they have, at times, ignited that flame of brilliance. Former singles ‘So Much Love’ and ‘Something I Should Do’ tapped into the magic of ‘Let Go’ and, pushed the envelope further still. The former surpasses the melody and affection of the classic ‘Inside of Love’. Honestly, who pulls out their best ever single on album number 9? Nada fucking Surf, that’s who!

This week, we saw Nancy Pelosi rip up Trump’s State of the Union. As poignant as it was, it remains entrenched in petty dialectical arguing, it won’t win! The lyrics to ‘Something I Should Do’ however, move past this and show the way forwards:

“And some people can't be beat in an argument
We have to hold to that hippie point harder
Empathy is good lack of empathy is bad
Holy math says we are never not together”

‘Come Get Me’, falls into single selection material too. Caw’s gorgeous vocals, go into Wayne Coyne and Neil Young mode on this Teenage Fanclub meets Lemonheads meander downstream. Young’s influence shines through in the lyrics. As Caws decrees “I’m getting tired / forgetting how to love/forgetting how to dance”, although different in subject matter, the protagonist pushed too far on ‘Down By The River’ comes to the fore.

In recent years, when the unexpected drops from Nada Surf’s work, the criticism has grown. ‘Live Learn & Forget’ and ‘Mathilda’ fall into this territory. However, Caws has found extraordinary serotonin levels on this album. It’s enough to carry these songs past said judgment.

Between Caws and Doug Gillard, long time collaborator, they provide two stunning solos. ‘Crowded Star’, gently shimmers like Neil Young’s ‘Winterlong’ before floating into the ether as if Grandaddy were playing Noel Gallagher songs.  

Alternatively, ‘Looking For You’, is the album’s moment of true bombast! Slowly building in a state of daydream, until the stirring guitars and orchestration.  Suddenly, everything is possible. The world can change, you can get the girl/boy, the status quo seems movable! A beautiful reminder that one song can still change the world.

While there are moments when 'Never Not Together' dips, it’s never that far. In their own distinct way, they have re-imagined the New Order lyrics “it’s called love and somehow it’s become unmentionable” for 2020. It’s ok to be lost, things will get better Nada Surf around.

*Image courtesy of Annie Dressner

Nada Surf – So much Love

Who among us hasn’t felt lost in recent years. Politically, culturally, financially, austerity, and the politics of hate have dominated. Just when political hope exited stage left, Nada Surf entered stage right!

Their new single ‘So Much Love’, taken from their ninth studio album ‘Never Not Together’, is the spark progressive minds need. The spritely guitars of LA’s are given the free spirit of British Sea Power’s ‘Bad Bohemian’ on this instant pop classic.

With tolerance and acceptance oozing from every note, the fractured times we live will disappear immediately. To find a melody this infectious nine albums in is astonishing. What other band has found a single this great this late on in their career?

*image courtesy of Annie Dressner

Nada Surf - Something I Should Do

Nada Surf recently announced their ninth studio album ‘Never Not Together’ is due for release February 7th via City Slang. To kick things off, they have released ‘Something I Should Do’.

It has been, at times, a ridiculous decade. At others, desperately worrying. The echoes of the 1930s have been sleepwalking there back into societies around the world. As the far right’s identity becomes more prominent, progressive influence has diminished.

Progressive liberalism has continuously lost votes, turned on itself, and, fragmented. As this decade closes, the New York icons have scratched away at the surface at let some much-needed light in to guide us through. Free yourself from social media, show more empathy and immerse yourself in art all seem obvious, but, via Matthew Caws’s heavenly vocals, they become gospel.

His lyrics hold much weight, not because of any Strummer-esque sloganeering, but, via their humbleness and honesty. His finger is on the pulse of what the human condition is in 2019. Wanting space to breathe but longing to belong in a social media dominated world is a different animal to anything seen in the last century. However, being kind hasn’t changed, and Caws eloquently advocates much more of it on and offline.

After 10 years of Tory divide and conquer tactics, and Trump’s acceleration into the abyss, this single, a chink of light for a more caring future is expertly timed.  They have drawn warm, embracing, and intelligent battle lines. Let heartfelt reason lead us to enlightenment once more!

*Image courtesy of Annie Dressner