Generally, the idea is to mature as time goes on. ‘California Nights’ is the third album by Best Coast, the Golden State duo of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, and their first for a major. It’s a suitably bold step into the big leagues.
This time around, they have again paired with producer Wally Gagel, who, as Cosentino recently told Clash, helped mould Best Coast’s sound into what she always felt it could become.
Much like Hole’s progression from ‘Live Through This’ to ‘Celebrity Skin’, Best Coast have evolved into a beautifully polished pop-rock machine. They have always possessed the basic knowledge to concoct that winning formula, as far back as their 2010 debut LP ‘Crazy For You’, but now Cosentino has perfected the art of dark, and sometimes yearning, lyrics juxtaposed with catchy hooks.
On Fading Fast she declares “this love will be the death of me” against a backdrop of handclaps and a toe-tapping guitar riff.
There is a winning ‘90s pop influence on a number of songs, the prime example being Heaven Sent, which packs a heavy punch amid a sugary sweet chorus: “I just want you to know that I think that you are heaven sent.”
With ‘California Nights’, Best Coast do much to dismiss the most common criticism of pop, namely that it lacks depth. On So Unaware, Cosentino is searching for answers: “What is life? What is love? What is the meaning of it all? Do I even care? Or is it just that I am so unaware?” Her admirable narrative candour - as on Jealousy: “Why don’t you like me?”- makes Best Coast a songwriting force to be reckoned with.
‘California Nights’ lands somewhere near pop perfection, even if it does commit music’s cardinal sin: the fade out. Once could be forgiven, but there are multiple instances here and that will not do. But, that’s one small criticism of an accomplished, mature and thoroughly enjoyable return.
Best Coast Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed May 20 2015 - LONDON Electric Ballroom
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