Best Coast’s “California Nights”

Written by: Chris Panico

Best Coast’s newest album is…just okay. Before sitting down to listen to their newest record California Nights,​my exposure to the group was limited to a little bit of background music at coffee shops, but I was excited to hear what the band was all about. Bands like Best Coast seem to always have a very tight­knit, devoted following. I’m always interested in hearing what it is about those bands that inspire the fans that they have.

A once over of the new record makes it clear that there’s a definitive Best­ Coast­ Sound that, while clear in its influence, is unique and well defined. Shaped by the kind of guitar sounds you’d find on a Pixies track, the duo (comprised of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno) also leans on melodies that stem from a Beatles/Beach Boys background.

“Feeling Ok” is the first track of the sound and it throws the listener into what the essential sound of Best Coast is. The crunchy guitars dominate the mix while Cosentino’s voice glides right above it. The song has a great, punchy attitude, owing to the great combination of guitars and heavy­hitting drums.
Getting farther into the album, it starts to become clear that C​alifornia Nights ​is a very monochromatic compilation. While many of the aforementioned qualities are great, they seem to be all that there really is on the record. Twenty­-five minutes in and it starts to seem like the songs have been on repeat for a little while.

While a slight bout of same­song­syndrome is the most evident issue on Best Coast’s record, uninspired lyrics come in a close second. They continuously go on in a very angsty, one­sided, teenage dialogue, never really saying anything all that interesting. Their song “In My Eyes” reads:

“I wake up alone, I look at the phone There’s no one there
I look at the sun
I know I can’t run
From my cares”

California Nights ​tends to follow the same lyrical trend, opting for the most obvious rhymes and providing very little content.

While Best Coast s​ounds​really great, and has the ability to capture their live energy on record, they really seem to miss the mark when it comes to variety and creativity. I’m not going to discourage anyone from listening to C​alifornia Nights,​ but there may be some better ones out there for you.

California Nights – Best Coast is available on iTunes.

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