Carefree Theatre

Surfer Blood are the cleanest and nicest band in existence. Well, thats what it says on Surfer Bloods website, and why would they lie about that? They sounded like sweet, well-scrubbed young people on their 2010 debut album, Astro Coast, and a decade later, despite a major-label deal gone bad and the death of original guitarist Thomas Fekete, they still sound fresh-faced and likable, based on the evidence of 2020s Carefree Theatre. Named for the only venue for live music in the groups hometown when they were growing up, Carefree Theatre is a well-crafted exercise in sunny indie pop, with clean and fuzzy guitars pairing up for maximum melodic friendliness and contented harmonies keeping the music fresh and warm. The band are so good at putting on a happy face that it takes a while to notice that the lyrics on Carefree Theatre arent especially joyous. The title cut concerns an old friend whose negative qualities have only grown stronger with time, Parkland Into the Silence contemplates the emotional fallout of mass shootings, Summer Trope tells the tale of an unsuccessful prison break, Desert Island is a casual look into the heart of disillusionment, and Unconditional shares snapshot of a relationship thats falling apart. Carefree Theatre is a musical Trojan horse that ingratiates itself with the charm of their music only to transform into a bunch of killjoys once you start listening closely. Surfer Blood work this push and pull with aplomb, as guitarists John Paul Pitts and Michael McCleary, bassist Lindsey Mills, and drummer Tyler Schwarz play the duality so well that even when you know these songs are downers, you cant help but tap your foot and hum along. Come for the melodies, stay the angst -- Carefree Theatre delivers both with smarts and style. ~ Mark Deming

サーフ・ロック・ムーヴメントで鮮烈なデビューを飾ったファースト・アルバムから10年、いまやスマートな佇まいをも宿したフロリダのインディー・ロック・バンドによる5枚目。エヴァーグリーンなロック・テイストはそのまま、ウィーザーやマシュー・スウィート的サウンドからさらに清涼さを増した良質のパワー・ポップを届けてくれた。初夏を彩るアップビートなメロディーと爽やかなコーラスワークが何とも心地良い一枚。
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