Friday, April 10, 2009

Atlas

You never know when a record is going to take on meaning well beyond its ambition. The Coast Is Never Clear is a superb pop album, with smart, bummed-out lyrics cutting nicely against exuberant, deftly-ornamented arrangements. And then they had to go release it on September 11, 2001.

My friend Thomas once told me about driving cross-country from California to begin his life in New York, this album accompanying much of the journey. Tumbling buildings and transcontinental relocation, the title gaining all kinds of wrinkles. It's a lot of weight to put on the shoulders of an album that just wants to wallow in the anguish of love.


(There's a nice live version too, with extra rock in the chorus. Give it a watch.)

1 comment:

  1. i discovered this band on a mix you gave me. it really captures the california indie vibe. Hey Brother has the line "You're moving back east where men are men" - a sort of whiny, nerdy, plea alongside an acknowledgment that you;re totally giving up on trying to win the girl back. love it! ps - i wish i had like an rss feed of this blog where i could download the song each day

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