I couldn't wait to hear The Weight is a Gift. I had such high expectations for it. This is the band that lampooned teenage dating through the dryly accurate "Popular," which garnered the band quick MTV success. Of course, that success quickly vanished. It didn't hinder Ira, Matthew, and Daniel's creativity -- they went on to make the unappreciated gem The Proximity Effect followed by the equally divine Let Go. Both albums showcased clever hooks, balls to the wall rock, and melody-driven ballads heavy on substance and low on the gag factor. Most fans, including myself, couldn't wait to hear what was next.
Sadly, Nada Surf has taken a few steps back with The Weight is a Gift. It wears the badge of a Barsuk release across its large forehead. The rocking melodies are still to be found, but they've been watered down from The Proximity Effect days of crunch, sass, and in-your-face commentary. There are no songs about rape or teenage drama, no memorable lyrics such as "Blue balls and all of that bullshit." What we're left with are 11 songs that are too slow, too needy, and too tiresome to get the blood flowing and the mind racing.
Most of the tracks are strong -- they just require patience to uncover. The album's up-tempo beginners, "Concrete Bed" and "Do it Again," pack all the punch of Nada Surf's greatest pop songs. "Concrete Bed" relies on an effortless acoustic tune, while "Do it Again" is more straightforward in delivering pure '90s alternative bliss. The song refused to repeat the same mistakes of its '90s peers, in part due to the crisp but not overblown production. More nostalgia is found within "Armies Walk." It's nothing more than an understated verse and loud, crashing chorus, but it gets the job done.
The album falters when the tempo switches from mild swaying to snooze. Many of the slower numbers are crushed by ennui and a lack of character. Nothing separates them from any typical slow pop ballad. "Your Legs Grow," "All is a Game," and "In the Mirror" are perfect fits for AOR radio and Starbucks compilations. The tracks are lacking so much substance they begin to wobble under the weight of Nada Surf's previous works.
While it's always best to avoid comparing a band's latest effort with previous releases, this is a case where looking back on Nada Surf's older works reveals the sad truth of The Weight is a Gift: it's just another above average release from another indie band. Nada Surf was on the cusp of breaking back into a deserved indie spotlight, where crowds wouldn't heckle with shouted requests of "Popular," but the steps taken back from the promise of previous albums is too much to ignore. Guess it'll be another wait until the legacy of Nada Surf can be judged correctly.
1. Concrete Bed
2. Do it Again
3. Always Love
4. What is Your Secret?
5. Your Legs Grow
6. All is a Game
7. Blankest Year
8. Comes a Time
9. In the Mirror
10. Armies Walk
11. Imaginary Friends
More about: Nada Surf
