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| Best Coast |
Just a year after the release of The Only Place, Bethany Cosentino and
Bobb Bruno have new music ready, a
"mini-album" (or EP) titled Fade
Away (released through Cosentino's own Jewel City record label). With plans
for a new LP next year, this seven track selection of songs about heartbreak
portrays Best Coast as a band growing up.
''This Lonely Morning'', the
opening track and single (and one of the highlights of the seven-song EP), is most
likely her most mainstream friendly single to date. It is definitely more
polished in terms of production and lyrics than the adolescent
"Boyfriend" or "Crazy for You", but not too polished to be
thrown into the increasingly-generic stadium rock that is crossing over into
Top 40 and "adult contemporary" radio.
According to a press release,
Cosentino was musically inspired by Mazzy Star, Patsy Cline, and My Bloody
Valentine. She was also inspired by Ambien. Yes, the same stuff that people use to treat insomnia. Does this mean this record will help you fall asleep? Nope.
The reference to Ms. Cline sounds
out of left field, until you hear the track "I Wanna Know", with
lyrics that sound like they could have belonged to the country queen's catalog.
"Tellin' lies it's a big surprise/Gazing into each other's eyes." And
then there is "Baby I'm Crying", which fits perfect in a jukebox to
play at a nearly-empty country bar on a dark and lonely night. It would be interesting
to hear these tracks covered by a country singer, or at least performed by Best
Coast as an acoustic version.
With the exception of "This
Lonely Morning", each song on here is at least over three minutes in length.
There isn't a rush to throw on speedy guitar riffs and too-easy choruses to complete
the song and move on. The best example of the slightly-slower paced Best Coast
is on "Fear of My Identity", the best song on Fade Away. The lyrics
tell a story about confusion and fear that is both personal ("The hate is
getting darker/And the fear is growing larger") and universal ("The
fear of my identity/Is standing right in front of me").
Fade
Away
is more calm, confident, and content with itself than the all-over-the-place and
over caffeinated atmosphere of Cosentino's previous work.
Best Coast
Fade Away
Fade Away
Jewel City
Grade: B+
