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Nada Surf - High/Low Audio CD

A fair review of the Nada Surf "High/Low" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Nada Surf reviews here, or go back to the Nada Surf tabs.

Nada Surf Band: Nada Surf
Title: High/Low
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-06-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Deeper Well 2: Plan 3: Popular 4: Sleep 5: Stalemate 6: Treehouse 7: Icebox 8: Psychic Caramel 9: Hollywood 10: Zen Brain

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Having listened to a selection of songs on their website I was hoping to feel like a child cycling a bike into a pool on first listening. What seems like an interesting cover picture hides an rather ordinary track list. Sadly disjointed songs, poor vocal intonation and volume, artifacts in the guitar sound and generally a lack of the elements that comprise a good song left me feeling distinctly disappointed. Writing an album is hard work and requires some level of musical ability. Here Nada Surf have written an album, and we critics shouldn't forget to ackowledge just what that entails. But writing a good (or brilliant) album is reserved for those special individuals/groups who have exceptional talent to paint a picture with every song and then suck you into it. High/Low was no such pleasure.
I will however ocassionally take this cd out of its box to listen to the fairly unique "Popular". More talking than singing on this track mixed with a few catchy bars of music is probably the only selling point of the product. .


High Quality Power Pop/Alterno-Rock
This is a really good album of punchy rock. . while it is labeled "alternative" by some, Nada Surf is so straightforward and refreshing on HIGH/LOW, they seem to be channeling the best parts of Jimmy Eats World and Weezer at the same time. The songwriting quality is excellent, and the lyrics are often meaningful, witty, or poignant, hinting at the moments of genius to come on future CDs like LET GO.

So if you like quality power pop/alterno-rock, give HIGH/LOW a spin. "Zen Brain" alone is worth the price of admission.


Slightly above generic
With few exceptions, this album sloshes through with pretty mechanical inclanations. Nada Surf were obviously just starting out, and by no means is it a bad debut rock alternative album, but it is definitly the wrong place to start, hardly hinting at their greatness to come.


Nada Surf's Shining Moment.


Released in 1996 this LP caused quite the stir in the rock world. High/Low. Mostly for the smart and sassy tune "Popular. " You might still hear that tune occasionally on a alternative rock station.

People who looked past that one hit and picked up this gem were treated to one of the perhaps most overlooked rock albums of the 1990s. Some accused it of being a poor Weezer rip off. I argue its superior in so many ways and its an essentual 90s rock album.

Its an album with Umph. It picks you up, and at least in my case inspires me. When you hit play "Deeper Well" starts pumping and sucks you right into the album. The vibe and the swagger of the record are infectious.

The pacing and song layout are almost perfect.

Ric Ocasek does a masterful job getting a great power sound out of the band. It sounds like a clean garage band recording. For a loud heavy album, its intimate sounding which is quite an accomplishment. All the instruments sound great.

Standout Tracks:
Psychic Caramel
Deeper Well
Stalemate
The Plan
Popular
Zen Brain (a perfect closer)

Sadly after this, Nada Surf changed musical directions. Unhappy with this direction shift they were dropped by Elektra Records. I honestly can't blame Elektra Records. When I shelled out $30 plus dollars for "Proxmity Effect" (AU import only in those days) because I was dying to hear it - I was extremely let down. It wasn't what I was expecting. The fun & inspiration was gone, as was the swagger. "Proximity Effect" is a morose, depressing, angsty and even preachy record. I listened to "Let Go" a couple of years ago, which didn't appeal to me either.

Fans of newer Nada Surf releases tend to look down at this effort. This is because it being a louder, brasher, faster, sassier record while having this b*tchin' swagger. Thats not what Nada Surf is today.

This album proudly stands on its own compared to the subdued material that came later.

I'll take this album over anything they've done since. It still inspires me on multiple levels and its brillance still shines brightly.


strong stuff
it brings back a lot of memories. a decade after its release, this album still touches me. if you think nada surf is just about "popular," you're missing out. every song is frustrated and melancholy. "deeper well" voices frustration at a romantic partner. "the plan" seems to be about feeling trapped in life and trying to find a plan, a way out and what to do. stalemate, treehouse and icebox are all great songs that lament a dying relationship. "psychic caramel" is the weakest, i think it's about the environment. "hollywood" is a surprisingly emotional song about trying to fit in with the cool people in every phase of life. and "zen brain" closes with sadness over aging and things not changing. this is great, original alternative rock music. the guy who says they're trying to be weezer doesn't have a clue. i'm a huge weezer fan too, and though they are similar to weezer in some ways, such as making catchy pop-rock and quirky lyrics, nada surf has NO interest whatsoever in being weezer, and prove it even more with their follow-up to this, the proximity effect. i recommend that one too. but if i had to pick only one to take to a desert island, it would definitely be this one. .


You can see a complete list of all Nada Surf discography, or go back to the Nada Surf tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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