Let Go

I only recently came across Nada Surf having apparently had my head in the sand during the 90s. I blame the hoards of zombified boy bands with brylcreemed hair, that looked floppy but was rock hard to the touch...Anyway, having looked them up and then spotted the album cover as a thumbnail on YouTube, I was intrigued - I am a bit of a sucker for a good design, because it sometimes indicates that the band themselves have good creative tastes, which in turn impacts the music. Whether my theory is correct or not, this is an awesome album. There are some cracking tunes on it and although Hi-Speed Soul reminds me a little too much of Semisonic's Singing in my Sleep, all I can say is long live Nada Surf, who are due to release a new album next month.Matthew Caws is just a great songwriter and his voice is very soothing to listen to. With a range of songs which cover different areas of the alt genre, this is a great starting point for fans of similar bands and as a whole it doesn't disappoint.

There are some bands I just haven't got around to checking out. Like my list of places to visit and books to read that just seems to increase and other things push them down the pecking order. Nada Surf were on that list until recently and for some reason I chose this as a starting point. I was well rewarded. This is their third album, their return after being dropped from their label and is just brimming with tunes and melodies that linger long after they finish.Inside of Love is a classic mid tempo ballad that's pure brilliance lyrically and musically. A memorable chorus and a feeling that melancholic and utterly wonderful at the same time. Blonde on Blonde may just be the best tribute song to an album ever. Its just a beautiful song. But its not just the ballads and wistful melodies that work here. The Way You Wear Your Head, Blizzard 77 and too many others just work.If you want to hear a gem of a rock album in the vein of The Shins etc then this really should be heard.

First album I've bought from this band. Very enjoyable.

A great album

This is a new injection of life into a rock and roll scene that has become depressingly predictable. Nada Surf have conspired to write twelve cleverly thought out, beautifully structured songs that still demand repeated listens weeks and months after first hearing them. When comparisons to other bands are sought, the most-used similarity is drawn with Weezer - now, although Nada Surf share the three minute pop song sensibility, their songs are so much smarter and edgier than the average power-pop band.Opener 'Blizzard of '77' sets out to prove this - just an acoustic guitar and vocal for the whole two and a half minutes, confounding people that were expecting fuzzed-up guitars and vocal harmonies. However, they aren't long in coming - Way You Wear Your Head, Hi Speed Soul, Happy Kid and Treading Water are all perfect three minute blasts of controlled aggression with vocal harmonies to die for - catchy, melodic, powerful, exactly what they should be. You can hear their appreciation for bands like Teenage Fanclub and Big Star, and it appears that Nada Surf are flying the same flag.The standout tracks are the slower, darker ones - Dylan homage Blonde On Blonde is exquisite, all A minors and F majors underneath softly sung vocals. Equally, Inside Of Love owes something to Blur's Coffee And TV, but the acoustic/electric guitar interplay lifts it up to another level altogether. Fruit Flies, meanwhile, begins as an acoustic ode to rotting fruit - bizarre, I know - and develops into a crashing, uplifting wall of noise. If this is the Nada Surf blueprint for the future, then we've finally found a band worthy of carrying the 'Big Star' torch.

With every listen to Let Go, you'll become angrier and angrier that Nada Surf aren't filling stadiums. With the radio filled to the brim with kiddiepop and faceless FM rock, Nada Surf should be the saviours. Each of these luscious tracks comes with a soothing melody, deeply personal lyrics and Matthew Caws' fittingly soft voice. The acoustic Blizzard Of '77, rocky The Way You Wear Your Head and and whisper-soft Blonde On Blonde alone should be enough to elevate these lads to the Indie Big League, but every single song on here is a potential hit. Along with Death Cab For Cutie, Nada Surf are a low-key band you should give yourself a pat on the back for coming across. This may be a year old but it's lost absolutely none of its power. They're still obscure, but give them time...