NADA SURF play the Opera House April 4. See listing. Rating: NNN
Since the surprise 1996 success of their Weezeresque hit Popular and subsequent shortlived dalliance with a major label, Nada Surf have carved out a career as an indie power-pop band with a cult fan base. Their seventh album shows them to be consistently good – though perhaps unambitious – songwriters despite not getting much attention for it.
The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy is less jangly and more upbeat than previous albums (apparently an on-purpose attempt to recreate their live energy), but still sounds like it was made by a band coasting on their natural ability to create catchy if unremarkable hooks. Some songs stick in your head, but few will blow your mind.
Strong melodies make the tunes better than middle-of-the-road, but aside from a bit more distortion, the New York trio show little desire to venture outside their breezy alt-pop comfort zone.
Top track: Clear Eyed Clouded Mind
