Rebuild Repeat

When Hockey Dad released their debut album, Boronia, in 2016, they were young men just out of their teens, and they sounded like it, in a positive way. Their music had a sense of fun and a free-spirited fondness for noisy guitars and melodic genre-crossing that reflected their boyish enthusiasm. Eight years later, Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming are older and wiser, and 2024s Rebuild Repeat, their fourth studio album, is significantly cleaner and tighter than their previous work. At the same time, at just over 30 minutes, its their shortest album to date, and it has a breezy, casual feel that belies the professionalism of the performances and the production. If Boronia and 2018s Blend Inn sounded like two guys having some good noisy fun, Rebuild Repeat could pass for the work of their older brothers, whove outgrown some of the more reckless aspects of their lives while maintaining a healthy appreciation for sun, sand, and a catchy melody. Most of Rebuild Repeat feels more like pop than rock, which is no insult -- this has a lighter touch than one might expect, with acoustic guitars as prominent as electrics and a less muscular attack on the drums, and favoring an easygoing charm on the melodies, which are well served by this approach. (The wit also feels more adult, with "Backup Plan" imagining an undemanding career at a call center when and if their lives in music go belly up.) This isnt music for a wild party, but for an afternoon of laid-back fun, suitable for a weekend barbecue or a drive with the top down, and on that level it succeeds admirably. Hockey Dad arent rocking as hard as they did when they started, but theyre still reliably strong songwriters and performers. Rebuild Repeat is the sound of them having a great time doing what they do, and chances are excellent youll have a great time with it, too. ~ Mark Deming