Five years is a long time for a band like Best Coast to be away. Although it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, it really has and it feels like it’s impacted the band in more ways than one.
Kicking out of the gate with “Different Light,” one hears a harder sounding duo, and while the band has upgraded from their previous lo-fi sensibilities, it has worked for the better. We get a more confident sounding band – and might I say how kickass it is to hear good, loud guitars again after so many years of Imagine Dragons-sounding nonsense.
“Everything Has Changed” couldn’t be a more apt title as it tells of positivity in life instead of the negativity that was creeping in on their last disc. It’s poppy, sunny, and just what you should be looking for in your indie rock. “Graceless Kids” follows along on a similar path and keeps the good vibes rolling. This is definitely more of an upbeat record from Bobb and Bethany, and that’s what the world really needs more of at this point: sunny, upbeat, positive indie rock.
One of the album’s great standouts, “Master Of My Own Mind” is an amazingly rocking track and one that demands constant repeats. “Rollercoaster,” while not an outstanding track, keeps the pace of the album up and helps keep the vibe going. “True” is one of the few slower songs here, but it doesn’t work and seems to break up the flow. Best Coast has always done slower tracks, but in this case, it doesn’t work all that well.
The intro of “Seeing Red” mimics the beat of “Mickey” and that should certainly throw the listener for a loop. It’s not a bad song but not as good as “Make It Last,” a song that is more fun and adds some nice synth flourishes to brighten the track.
Overall, there are a few tracks that don’t go the distance, but this collection is a much better record than 2015’s California Nights and shows a true revitalization of one of the more interesting indie rock combos to come out in the last decade or so.