[rating=9.00]
Nada Surf has always been an exceptional band. With eight studio albums under their collective belt, they continue to defy easy description. Suffice it to say they make a sound that boasts both beauty and ambition, a remarkable combination that finds them soaring on the strength of aural embellishment. It’s appropriate then that their new album, recorded live with orchestral accompaniment just this past June, not only expresses that innate ability, but also open up new dimensions as well, providing an eloquence and immediacy that’s more vivid and visceral than ever before.
Indeed, while certain melodies in the repertoire appear to linger in the ethos as if in a dream-like state — opening track “Comes a Time” (not to be confused with the Neil Young songs of the same name) being the best example — other entries soar with a sound that’s seductive and serene but eloquent and expressive all the same. The narratives between the tracks provide some interesting backstories — the explanation of how “Blizzard of ’77” evolved out of a solitary sojourn offers a particularly intriguing insight — but it also allows for some noticeable nuance as well. Who knew that the song “The Fox” was actually a statement about cable news. The fox in this instance provides a not-so-subtle jab at the channel of the same name while referencing an creature supposedly known for manipulating others. Hmmm…it’s an interesting allegory, but one that might have gone unnoticed had the commentary not been included.
Ultimately, Peaceful Ghosts underscores its title well, its underlying tension belying the majesty at its core. The strings may add the nuance, but the brilliance that’s been such an integral part of the band’s conceits gets a full flourish here. It may be a stretch to say this is Nada Surf’s essential album, but it does embody all they’ve been striving for up until this point. All in all, it’s a remarkable aural document that both illuminates and enlightens.