Nada Surf - Let Go

It’s unfortunate that so many have written Nada Surf off as a one-hit wonder of the 1990’s, joining the likes of Superdrag and The Toadies as bands that have been forgotten by the mainstream. While most only remember “Popular”, Nada Surf has still been active yet extremely overlooked. For instance, “Let Go”, their latest effort, couldn’t even get a release in the U.S., while it has been out and selling well in Europe since September of 2002. The opener, “Blizzard of ‘77”, sets the mood for the rest of the album. They seem to have dropped quite a bit of their Weezer-ish feel, trading it in for a more complex, subtle style. “Inside of Love” is a perfect slow-pop song, while “Killian’s Red” is reminiscent of (believe it or not) Sunny Day Real Estate’s “Pillars”. There is, of course, the standard mid-90’s alternative stuff on here. “The Way You Wear Your Head” and “No Quick Fix” are examples of this, but they are still fun enough to be guilty pleasures. They also have beautiful, rich acoustic songs like “Neither Heaven Nor Space”, “Blonde On Blonde”, and the seven-minute long “Paper Boats” (which never bores, surprisingly). The only song I find myself skipping over is “La Pour Ca”, only because its sung in French and I have no idea what he’s singing. The verdict? This could possibly be one of the best CDs to come out in 2003, and will also sadly be one of the most overlooked. Definitely pick it up when it comes out in February if you’re looking for a break from the garage rock or consistently boring power-pop releases. [www.nadasurf.com]