Originally published in The Aquarian Weekly

January 30, 2008

Nada Surf / Lucky

Barsuk

I don't always connect with a

record after one listening. That's

why I make it a point to listen to

each album that I review at least

three times before I write a word.

There have been several

occasions when the additional

plays changed my opinion. Not

this time though.

Nada Surf is a band that

survived a major label deal to

become something of a darling

among the indie crowd. Their fifth

album was recorded with

producer John Goodmanson

(Sleater-Kinney, Blonde Redhead)

in Seattle. It features guest

appearances by Ben Gibbard of

Death Cab For Cutie, Sean

Nelson of Harvey Danger and Ed

Harcourt. Alas, the credits are

not enough to make this a

successful album.

There are a number of nice

touches, such as the chiming

guitars that open "Whose

Authority", the lovely Brian Wilson

inspired coda to "Weightless" and

the juxtaposition of relationship

issues and airplane problems on

"Ice On The Wing". But what's

missing is something new,

something you haven't heard a

thousand times before. In the end,

it all comes down to the songs,

and there is very little here that

is memorable.

In A Phrase: Surf's Down

Grade: C

—by Ken Shane