The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy by Nada Surf

Over the last two decades in the world of music, hair metal died giving way to the era of grunge, hip-hop turned gangsta and then was auto-tuned, radio stations appalled listeners with the sugar pop of boy/girl bands. Even rock morphed through different sounds, styles and hairdos. Many of these things simply represent the waves of change that ebb and flow throughout the music industry, but for the better part of the last two decades, Nada Surf ignored trends, refused to change and stuck with what works best: concise, consistent and straightforward rock and roll.

Many may only remember Nada Surf from their 1996 debut album, High/Low that featured the angst-ridden single, "Popular." Despite being known as a one-hit-wonder, the Brooklyn-based three-piece has since released six additional records including their highly acclaimed 2002 release, Let Go, 2010's courageous cover album, If I Had a Hi-Fi and their latest effort The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy.

The Stars delivers 10 tight tracks (only one track breaches the five minute mark) that tastefully blend big and gritty rock riffs with a softer, more acoustic style. Tracks one and two rope the listener with a delightful and predictable Nada Surf sound. Track three, "When I Was Young," slows things down a bit, but only at first. About halfway through the song crescendos into a big, powerful ending with a sound reminiscent of 90s Brit-rock bands The Verve and Oasis.

Midway through the album, the tracks "The Moon Is Calling" and "Teenage Dreams" blast through the speakers, almost pleading with the listener to remember to get up and follow their heart. "Looking Through" is a perfect allegory for the band's collective stories. Singer/guitarist, Matthew Caw's lyrics, "I really like it quite, but I really like it loud. Always changing. Never changing. Never can slow down," insightfully describe the band both musically and personally.

It may be easy to assume that an album by a three-piece band would sound hollow and stripped down, but that's simply not Nada Surf's style. Strings, horns and organ add depth to several tracks, swirling unassumingly around Caw's charming pop-rock hooks. Rich layers of guitars, paired with the tightly synced rhythm of drummer Ira Elliott and bassist Daniel Lorca, are mixed well, making each track a distinct and cohesive part of the whole.

During the album's final track, "The Future," Caw professes, quite sentimentally, "I cannot believe the future is happening to me," a probable retrospective that the band has come a long way, and the journey has been great.

Comments

There are no comments.

To comment on this article login or register.

More Reviews

'Cruel Summer' Is A Hip-Hop Revelation

09/20/2012
The Sparrow by Lawrence Arabia

08/09/2012
Oceania by The Smashing Pumpkins

06/25/2012
What We Saw From the Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor

06/14/2012
Born and Raised by John Mayer

06/10/2012
Bloom by Beach House

05/29/2012

CelebSelect

Danielle Panabaker's Top Pop Picks
- Favorite Band: The Avett Brothers
  
  "I'm really into the Avett Brothers as of late."
- Favorite Book: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  
  "My girlfriends are I - we are very nerdy. We started a book club and the first book we read was Gone Girl."
- Favorite New Movie: Silver Linings Playbook
  
  "I thought it was a great film and I thought Jennifer Lawrence was incredible, you know those angry tears, I've certainly experienced that."
Paul Van Dyk: Current Favorites
- School of the Seven Bells
  
  The New York-based band unites Benjamin Curtis of "Secret Machines" and Alejandra Deheza. Formed in 2007, the duo is named after a mythical South American pickpocket training academy of the same name.
- Linkin Park
  
  The Californian rock veterans have come a long way since 'Hybrid Theory.' Back now with their fifth studio album in over a decade, 'Living Things' is one of Paul Van Dyck's favorite albums this year.
- Jupiter Jones
  
  The German punk rock band formed in 2002, but has already released several LPs, including an eponymously-named album in 2011.
- Depeche Mode
  
  The legendary Essex electronic band from the 80s remains a classic for Van Dyk. It was also recently among 'Q' magazine's "50 Bands That Changed The World!".
Cody Simpson
- Favorite Movie
  I'm still really into the Ocean's series. I got into them recently. I was always too young to watch them.
- Favorite Book
  This book called Contest by Matthew Reilly, he's an Australian author.
- Favorite Album
  Drake's Take Care — big fan of that
- Favorite TV Show
  The Mentalist
Styx's Lawrence Gowan
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
  
  "That’s got me laughing hysterically on airplanes."
- Making Mirrors by Goyte
  
  "I thought that was a tremendous record."
- The Artist
  
  "It really impressed me."
- Keane
  
  "They’re really strong."
90210's Michael Steger: My Favorite Stuff
- Favorite TV Show: Rome
  
  HBO's series starring Cirian Hinds
- Favorite Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
  
  "Either that or The Gypsy Kings."
- Favorite Book: The Fountainhead
  
  "Probably my favorite book of all time."
- Favorite New Movie: Attack The Block
  
  “It reminded me of The Goonies.”