Pitchfork's Nada Surf review

I think this weirdly mischaracterizes the band based on the press bio:

Noting that they’ve “always played faster and a little harder live,” frontman Matthew Caws and crew set out to capture the raw, excited feel of a practice-room jam session with seventh album The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, the followup to the 2010’s If I Had a Hi-Fi. 

This may well be, but the production and energy level are virtually identical to the previous three Nada Surf albums (which the review gives little indication of having heard). It’s certainly no worse than The Weight is a Gift (a little sharper, to these ears), which got a respectable 6.4 — what crimes has this one committed to lower it to a sub-average 4.4? Silly lyrics? It’s a Nada Surf album! Oh well.

1. michaelpop said: Review would’ve been a lot shorter if they’d simply said, “if you’re a fan, then here’s more of the same, so you’ll probably enjoy it.” And that not even an endorsement or criticism. But in a genre like power pop, staying the course is a good thing.
2. newprofessor said: what does nada surf even need a pitchfork review for? if i’m their management, i go out of my way to avoid getting it labeled “uncool” by pitchfork – a label that was inevitable looking at p4k’s other nada surf reviews. they’ll tour fine without p4k.
3. rawkblog posted this