The Stars are Indifferent to Astromony
Artist: Nada Surf
Label: Shock Records
Website: righteousbabe.com/ani/
Still as
relevant as ever
As Matthew
Caws sings the line “This new peace - I can feel it now,” in "Waiting
For Something" on Nada Surf's sixth full length The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy,
it highlights that Nada Surf have returned with one of their most
inspired and bright albums to date. The record brings all of the
soaring hooks and melodies that fans have come to expect from the
veteran indie band but on The Stars,
the intensity has definitely been turned up.
This is the group's first album of new material
in almost four years (If I Had a
Hi-Fi [2010] was a
covers album) and the approach for recording was play it faster and a
little harder like the band performs live while utilizing all of their
"new song" energy. The result under the guidance of producer Chris Shaw
(Wilco, Bob Dylan, Super Furry Animals) is a record that comes at you
with guitars and hooks blazing like the new memorable rockers "Looking
Through" and "Waiting For Something".
Speaking of guitars, Nada Surf also expanded their trio for the
recording process with the talented axe-man Doug Gillard (Guided By
Voices, Bambi Kino, Death Of Samantha) whom Caws met several years ago.
Gillard played on If I Had a Hi-Fi
and toured with the group which made him a natural to add his skilled
guitar solos to Stars which
are a bright spot on every track.
The combining of Nada Surf's focus with their high spirits makes Stars one of the most optimistic
records the band has released which showcases a group that is at total
peace with their indie rock status. It absolutely doesnt matter if the
band is reflecting back on a track like "When I Was Young" or looking
outward during "The Moon Is Calling", Nada Surf sound great doing it. The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy is
an album that grows and gets better after every spin because once Nada
Surf hook you here - they really hook you - which is all the feedback
longtime fans really wanted to hear in the first place.
Christopher Anthony
For more of Christopher Anthony's music reviews, check out The Fire Note