I liked this Tacoma
fourpiece's debut album, so when this beautiful slab of sky-blue
vinyl came through the mail slot, I'll admit my curiosity was
piqued. Like their last record, Colonial Surf exudes a warm
Counting Crows influence, although it frequently delves into
moments of harder rock. The result is a throwback to the sort of rootsy
alternative rock that was big in the mid- to late-nineties,
infectious in spirit and delivery.
Interestingly, I
found Colonial Surf a lot less immediate than its predecessor
- to me, the recording sounds a little less dynamic, and the hooks
don't sink in as quickly. Still, there are many inviting songs on
this solid record. "The Thief That You Are" is a blazing fun
time, made sublime by way of an utterly resplendent bridge, while
Counting Crows inspired "Virginia Weston" is an impressively dynamic
and varied track that grips the listener's attention firmly. Though
the band certainly can rock, they also like to slow things down for
the occasional folksy ballad, as on downtrodden "Heckler Hunted by
Canines" and iconic campfire ditty "Half a Mile to Hopeless." The
rest of the record is a tad inconsistent, with several sinkers ("The
Queen's Finest Laundry Boy," "In Tandem") as well as many notable
moments. The band certainly hasn't released its masterpiece yet, but
Colonial Surf is another fine diversion along the way.