Nada Surf – The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy

With their first batch of new material since 2008′s Lucky, veteran alt-rockers Nada Surf roll back into the game with little left to prove. After all, having been widely dismissed as one-hit wonders as far back in time as 1996 (having been a band for four years previous), there must be a measure of satisfaction to be taken from the fact they’re not only alive but thriving in the here and now, and new album The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy finds them not exactly out to blaze any new trails, but as breezy and warmly accessible as they’ve ever been.

Across its ten tracks, this is a record which is light on filler and sees Nada Surf content to wander a well-beaten track in their oldest, most comfortable shoes. It’s irrepressibly likeable, comfortingly familiar and likely to go over a storm with long-time fans. ‘Jules and Jim’ is an adequate summation of this point, a summery anthem which comes off like Belle and Sebastian crossed with The Pretenders. While its relentless optimism might threaten to get a little suffocating over the pace, the lilting melancholia of ‘When I Was Young’ breaks proceedings up a little, and gives our attention span the little nudge it might need.

There’s plenty to like about The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, and if you’re a confirmed Nada Surf fan already, the chances are this will particularly apply to you. For the rest of us, it’s a pretty good way to introduce yourself to a band who sound like they’re making the music they want to make, and having a great time in the process. And ultimately, what’s not to like about that?