Nada Surf

If you were to categorize bands by the type of meal they resemble, well, Nada Surf would be in the meat and potatoes family. Always dependable, appetizing and satisfying, each new album arrives with the same assurance as your local steakhouse: you won't leave disappointed. The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy is no exception. In fact, their sixth proper album starts off at a rousing pace with "Clear Eye Clouded Mind," a sweaty rocker that signals more of an effort to capture their rawer live sound. And while they keep it up later on with the rollicking "Looking Through," Nada Surf immediately slam on the breaks and fall back into their signature mid-tempo style. However, relying on frontman Matthew Caws' wistful lyrics and hooky melodies works for Nada Surf, and so "Waiting for Something" plays like a textbook single if there ever was one, which isn't a bad thing, while "Teenage Dreams" fulfils their duty of producing at least one tailor-made track for One Tree Hill. Where Astronomy stands out most in their catalogue is in the ever-so-subtle garnishes, brought on by the vibes filling "Jules and Jim" and horns/strings combo conducting "Let the Fight Do the Fighting." They're small nuances, and Nada Surf know to keep things that way in order to uphold their status as one of the world's most affable bands. In doing so, they may walk a fine line of predictability, but The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy is as immediate and thoroughly enjoyable as The Weight is a Gift or Lucky. What's wrong with being consistent when you're great at something?