Best Coast
California Nights
(Harvest)
C+
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the Crazy for You Best Coast era in all its lo-fi glory. There’s something about a song with lyrics seemingly from a middle schooler’s diary (see: “Boyfriend”) that makes the finished product that much more impressive. With subsequent efforts, Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno kept that lyrical simplicity but otherwise increased the sound, as if the music went from the foggy morning dew to the clear breeze of the beach in the afternoon. That trend continues with the Cinco de Mayo release of California Nights, the Los Angeles duo’s third LP. In many ways, Best Coast is meant to be played on shuffle; songs blur together, albums can be interchanged, but the effortless West Coast cool remains throughout.
The standout hit of Bethany and Bobb’s latest release is its namesake. “California Nights” is pleasantly brooding, with the band’s signature vibe of sunny melancholia carrying the tune. Reminiscent of 2010’s “Honey,” the vocals drag and melt into each other until they practically fade into a cloud of smoke. “Heaven Sent,” also a single, is a radio-ready nugget of ’90s garage-rock reverb. Here, the hooks take over and the words play a catchy second fiddle, priming it to be in the running for the indie-rock Song of the Summer. “In My Eyes” is also easy to get hooked on, with its tambourine, climbing guitar solo and heavy rhymes.
But my main complaint with California Nights is that I never quite have that “hot damn” moment. Will it be a go-to album? Sure, because I sit at a computer nine-plus hours a day and am constantly in need of background music. Would I be able to describe the album to you in detail, even after listening to it five times in a row? Probably not. It’s worth a listen, but not on the same level as the days when Snacks the Cat graced the cover. Bottom line: Somebody please roll Bethany a fat blunt, because her high seems to have worn off and she kind of needs it back.
