Album Review: Nada Surf – The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
‘The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy’ marks Nada Surf’s seventh release. The New Yorkers have once again delivered a sampling of poignant rock music that can only be ascertained from years of collective experience. Now well into their 40s, the band is living proof that the hopes of youthful dreams can continue to prosper.
From the days in which Nada Surf were mere additions to ‘The O.C.’ soundtracks, the group have long since been held in high esteem on British shores. Their developing stature has continued to thrive, revealing an exclusive approach to American indie rock. This 10-track compilation does exactly this. Bursting out of its shell with the head-bangingly explosive ‘Clear Eye Clouded Mind,’ the listener is given a 4-minute taster of what is to come in the following 40 minutes. Thankfully, everything that follows is as exciting as promised.
Fast forward to the album’s intersection and you will find yourself at the doorstep of ‘The Moon is Calling,’ a track that I personally consider to be one of the best indie rock anthems in years. The melodies are memorable, the guitar riffs are magnetic and the lyrics are incredibly elegant, yet very simple. The track also demonstrates the higher-pitched vocals of lead singer Matthew Caws. Here, his resemblance to Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses seems increasingly noticeable.
‘The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy’ is a thoroughly enjoyable listen. More importantly, however, it is a record that can be revisited again and again. Each listen unlocks a more significant aspect of the mental psyche of adults performing a genre of music which is filled to the brim by a teenage majority. The result is a stirring grasp on the hopes and ambitions of youthful adolescence. In all, a well-respected album by a well-respected band.
9/10
‘The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy’, Nada Surf’s first new album in years, is out now on Barsuk.
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