Any one who listened to the radio at all in the mid to late nineties at least knows who Nada Surf is, but do you remember when you first actually dove into (if you haven’t yet, it’s ok, they’re still together and there is still time) Nada Surf? For me it was in 2003 when my little brother strongly recommended I get a copy of Let Go. When I got the album I laid down in the floor in my studio apartment and closed my eyes and listened. When the layered acoustic chords to ‘Blizzard of 77’ started to jump out of the speakers I was blown away. It’s rare to listen to a new album for the first time and to actually be moved. Let Go opened me up to the world of Nada Surf and I have been enchanted with their music ever since. I was highly anticipating Lucky, especially after hearing ‘See These Bones.’ The way that Elliot lets the beat roll along Caws dancing guitars and Lorcas locked-in bass groove is a wonderful prelude to what ultimately becomes an array of vocal harmonies that sing and weave throughout the entire record. This song sets a perfect pace for the album. ‘Who’s Authority’ takes the place of the second song, which it rightfully deserves. The second song on many good records tends to be a song that sticks out, and sticks in your head. I have listened to this song (ok, every song, but for the sake of the main subject of this paragraph we’re going to focus on ‘Who’s Authority) over and over and over, and I just am not able to get sick of it. It is not only mega catchy but it’s also just flat out fun to sing along to. I work at a bar where we get to listen to a plethora of amazing music and whenever I put on ‘Who’s Authority’ I can count of seeing a lot of happy faces singing along. ‘Beautiful Beat’ could not be any more accurately described by its title. The song is simply beautiful. This song perfectly describes just how cool the science of music is. It never ceases to amaze me how when the right sounds come out of those speakers and into our ears and into our brains, they actually lift our emotions in spite of whatever weight could be currently on your life. Beautiful beat not only has music that is uplifting but lyrics to accompany it as well. ‘Here Goes Something’ is a short and fun ditty. It may be just me, but being as big a fan of Simon and Garfunkel as I am of Nada Surf, I was reminded of the fun things I love when I listen to songs like ‘Feel Groovy,’ ‘Cloudy,’ or ‘Punky’s Dilemma.’ The thump of Elliot’s bass drum and tambourine behind Caws acoustic guitar makes for an exciting jingle. I am one of many who tend to have a different favorite on an album every couple of weeks. Right now one of my top two off of Lucky is ‘Weightless.’ I’m a sucker for songs that have an intro that involves what I like to call for lack of a better word, a “blast.” And yes a “blast” is exactly what it sounds like, quiet, to BOOM!!! Timing is everything and lucky for Nada Surf, they have a great sense of exactly how to make their instruments work together to pull the listener in and take them on a dynamic ride that is high and low, soft to loud, pianissimo to fortissimo. ‘Are You Lightening’ is a beautiful love song. It is the kind of song that makes you think of whoever that special someone is that makes your heart go pitter-patter and feel like you have wings lifting your entire body off of the ground. It is the song that plays as a soundtrack to that exciting period of a new and exciting love that just makes you warm and fuzzy all over. With a chorus like “Are you lightening? Cause I’m waiting. What’s the timing? I’m not playing,” Caws puts the listener in the setting of anticipating a new relationship and trying to enter with caution but at the same time being so enamored that despite all precautions taken you are totally head over heels with the most amazing human of your dreams. I was delighted to hear how ‘I Like What You Say’ turned out. When it was released over a year ago for the “(blah blah doesen’t matter) soundtrack,” I was impressed. This new version of ‘I Like What You Say,’ has many more pieces of ear candy, like some tasty vocal effect’s, a little more acoustic guitar presence in the choruses, and some fun bass fuzz on the bridges. Have you been to any Nada Surf shows when they play ‘Blankest Year’ and they have lots of people come on stage and EVERYONE is dancing? ‘From Now On’ is Lucky’s “dancing song.” Why, you ask? Because when you hear this song you want to dance. I personally either like to keep it simple and do the twist to this song, or if I’m feeling extra ambitious, I might break into an eighties style sway back and forth similar to the was Courtney Cox dances in the video for Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark.’ Do you like airplanes? Do you like social commentaries with uplifting undertones despite the many sad realities we face today? That’s so weird… I do too! ‘Ice On The Wing’ is a fun song that drives at an up tempo pace leading to a catchy chorus that stops with a screeching halt, (it literally has a cool squealing effect on Caws inhaling breath in the left speaker before the second verse (1:34.)) The end is a fun outro in the vein of a Beatles arrangement by George Martin. ‘The Fox’ is the other “favorite” of mine (remember my top two list earlier? Well, this is currently riding as number ONE on that list.) This song stuck out to me as not only the most experimental but also as my strait up favorite track on the album from listening day one. It starts with a signature Caws picking pattern and melody, but this time there is a heavy use of delay, and I am a big fan of delay. That is of course only when it is used tastefully and in the perfect way. They nailed it on this song. The bass and drums are syncopated to the maximum power and taking things to another level. Caws ability to seamlessly sing between a modal voice and beautiful falsettos has always amazed me and always will. There’s a good chance this is one of the top songs I’ve listened to this past month not only as far as play counts go but also in the sense that it literally one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. ‘The Film Did Not Go ‘Round’ is a perfect finally to Lucky. It is a mellow track like ‘Blonde on Blonde’ or ‘Meow Meow Lullaby.’ It’s very lyrical and paints extremely visual pictures with lines like “The shudder clicked, but the film did not go round.” This is a song that fits perfectly at the end. It fits so well actually, that if it was not at the end it would seem out of place. I love the way the resonating boom of the tympani rings out for the last leg. Very pleasing. I love this record. It is by far my favorite new release so far this year. I have to give it 9 out of 10 stars. There is only one reason that I can’t give it 10 stars, and that reason is called Let Go.

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brittanybf says:

great review. you are a nada surf "lucky" connoisseur! it makes me want to hear it. i've gotta say i never thought nada surf would be a band name i'd still be hearing 10+ years after their first big hit.

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