Nada Surf: Always Love

Nada Surf has been chugging along since 1992. Most people will be familiar with the name, but have no idea what song they've heard by them. They kind of get that glassy look in their eyes as they rack their brains for some clue as to where they have heard Nada Surf. If you phrase it properly you can even make them feel guilty about it too.

Until a few days ago I was the same way. Knew the name, couldn't name a song by them if my life depended on it.

If you've heard them most likely you've heard Popular which was their breakout hit in 1996 off the "High/Low" album. Check out the blatant Weezer ripoff. Sounds like the Sweater Song kinda huh? With a dash of Suicidal Tendencies talk over effect from "Institutionalized"

Therein lies the problem. They were too derivative. Lost in the flood of "alternative" music that was the mainstream at the time, why would anyone give a shit?

The song reached #11 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and propelled the album to #63 on the Billboard 200.

Nada Surf didn't release an album again till 1998 with "The Proximity Effect." Elektra records hated it and said there wasn't a single in the mix. The album was released in Europe and was generally approved of by critics. Sales were pretty solid, but Elektra, being pissed about the single thing refused to release the album in the US. So Nada Surf scraped the scratch together, bought the album back and released it themselves under the new label DeMarv Records. Another album followed two years later, and again, critical love from the press and fans but nothing from the US.

Their latest album was released in September and it is worth noting that "the weight is a Gift" was produced by Chris Walla of the band Death Cab for Cutie, if only because DCFC is regarded as indie darling at the moment.

The biggest thing I've noticed is that the edgy Alt thing has mellowed significantly. Nada Surf has found their groove. And while it's nothing mind blowing it is at least enjoyable. The Lyrics are inoffensive and bland to the point that you completely tune them out and listen the Wall of Sound instead, which is rich and soothing. Matthew Caws voice completely blends in and takes on that feeling of another backing instrument instead of the focal point. Plus no more Weezer ripoffs. Which at this point might be a bad thing since Weezer has screwed the pooch the last three albums. A ripoff band would make bank on all the disillusioned fans who burned the Green Album.

So here's the first single off the new album,Always Love. Catchy in a Pete Yorn kind of way.

Here is the official website which is pretty boring. If you are at all interested check out this fan site which seems to have just about everything ever in print of T.V. about them.