Nada Surf

After rising from the depths of major label eradication in 2002 with their stunning comeback album, Let Go, Nada Surf are back to prove that it was no fluke. Fourth album, The Weight is a Gift, picks up where they left us — in the company of the band’s deeply emotional and enjoyable songbook. As fans have come to expect since 1998’s The Proximity Effect, there are no novelty hits like 1996’s "Popular,” but instead a dependable collection of songwriter Matthew Cawes’ combination of heartfelt ballads and playful rock-outs. His penchant for touching indie rock torch songs bears affinity to his friends Death Cab For Cutie, pulling the heartstrings with a cache of sweet words in "Your Legs Grow” and the uplifting sentiments of "Always Love.” Remarkable though is his capacity to match those with a shaking rock number like "Blankest Year,” which somehow turns the puerile words of "Oh fuck it, I’m going to have a party” into a delightfully carefree catchphrase that will sway you into throwing a party yourself. The Weight is a Gift confirms that we can rely on Nada Surf to keep delivering albums of high quality melodic rock that can make us both grin and sob whenever they want us to.