The year 2015 marked the formation of the American indie rock band Surf Curse. The duo, consisting of Nicholas Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck, created a unique and captivating sound that combined elements of surf rock, post-punk, and lo-fi aesthetics. Surf Curse's music is characterized by dreamy, reverb-laden guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and Rattigan's emotive vocals. Their debut album, "Buds," released in 2013, established their signature sound and laid the groundwork for their subsequent releases. In 2015, the band released their sophomore album, "Sad Boys," which further solidified their place in the indie rock scene. The album featured tracks like "Freaks" and "All Is Lost," which showcased the band's ability to create infectious hooks and deliver introspective lyrics.

Surf Curse – Buds

The weather’s been pretty shitty in Montreal lately, all rainy and cold and lacking in vitamin d. There’s not a whole lot I’d like more right now than to be transported to a sunny beach party with all of my friends where we could rock out to surf tunes and get tans and be best buds.

Unfortunately that ain’t gonna happen. Oh, well, at least I have Surf Curse’s new album Buds to listen to. Made up of Jacob Rubeck and Nicholas Rattigan, Surf Curse is a pizza-eatin’, movie-lovin’, surf-rock duo from Reno, Nevada, which has officially moved up a few notches on my “places I should probably go check out sometime” list.

With repetitive choruses (“you promised me everything was gonna be alright, woah, you promised me everything was gonna be alright, woah, you promised me everything was gonna be alright, woah…”) and ample falsetto ooooh’ s throughout, Surf Curse is like a marriage between Wavves and The Ramones. And a beautiful marriage it is. As can be the case with this genre of music, there tends to be a slight overuse of the falsetto ooooh’ s and many of the songs blend together into one mesh of repetitive shouting choruses, but that’s not really a problem if you ask me. There’s not one track on this album that I don’t want to get up and dance to; in fact, I’m bobbing my head along to my favourite track on the album right now: “Goth Babe.” The song starts strong and fast with pounding drums and a punky guitar riff, and proclaims:

“I want a goth babe in my life
I want someone I can bite
I want to listen to the cure
I want to tell you that I’m yours”

Every line of the song seems to be punctuated by an exclamation mark, and the enthusiasm is infectious, capturing the uncomplicated simplicity of summertime that everyone dreams of. At times abrasive, always pretty loud, but never not dance-worthy and upbeat, these old school, lo-fi surf tunes are perfect for that basement beach party you’ve been dying to throw.

Surf Curse - "Freaks"

This song is from 2015; it went viral on TikTok recently and exploded on Spotify and Apple Music subsequently. This push is being backed up by Atlantic Records according to AllAccess, and they've sent the original recording instead of a cleaned-up master or re-recording. IMO, it's the smarter call to send the original, but I admit my imagination wonders what this would sound like with the cleaner production of one of Surf Curse's later songs like "Disco" (which is also increasing in popularity).

My top 50 of 2023 has been posted. Check it out!

Post by American Idiot on May 21, 2021 8:28:00 GMT -5

This one's not bad. It really does a have surf rock feel to it, so the band's name fits pretty well. I agree with what Bob said as the vocals could be better and this sounds very much like it would belong on AAA best.

Post by Daryl the Beryl on Jun 2, 2021 6:42:44 GMT -5

Top 50 on Alternative:

133 50 SURF CURSE Freaks 149 15 134 0.376

Post by Daryl the Beryl on Jun 10, 2021 6:48:29 GMT -5

Top 40 on Alternative:

50 40 SURF CURSE Freaks 305 185 120 0.706

Post by macattack on Jun 18, 2021 9:24:38 GMT -5

42 45 SURF CURSE Freaks 264 303 -39 0.433

I'm not surprised that it is already hiccuping. The way it's mixed is a difficult sell for radio. They may have to re-record/remaster it and send it again. What radio listeners like doesn't always align with what TikTok kids like for better or worse.

I still think sending the original was the smarter play (after all, it is the version people are listening to!) but I guess radio is reluctant to cooperate at the moment.

My top 50 of 2023 has been posted. Check it out!

Post by Daryl the Beryl on Jul 20, 2021 4:49:46 GMT -5

Top 30 on Alternative:

33 30 SURF CURSE Freaks 540 435 105 0.697

Post by Daryl the Beryl on Aug 18, 2021 4:53:36 GMT -5

Top 20 on Alternative:

25 19 SURF CURSE Freaks 786 708 78 0.855

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Album Review: Surf Curse – Magic Hour

By Devon Risner

[Atlantic Records; 2022]

Rating: 5/10

Key Tracks: “Sugar”, “Unwell”, “TVI”

After the recent rise in popularity of their hit single “Freaks” in 2015 and the success of subsequent single “Disco” in 2019, Surf Curse released something completely different from their early albums. Unfortunately, they fell into the path of the “alt-rock” radio machine where you would be hard-pressed to hear a song that really stands out. Compared to their second most recent record Heaven Beside You, this new album feels overproduced. It almost comes as no surprise, because this is the first record they released with The Atlantic Recording Company. All other albums before were self-recorded and released, so the feel and mojo of the band lives there, not with Atlantic.

The A-side of the record is a monotonous listen, with uninspired lyrics and generic guitar riffs. “Arrow”, the record’s opener, is a high-energy pop-punk song that feels like any other pop-punk that has been released in the past 20 years. “Sugar” was one of three tracks to receive a music video, which makes sense with it being one of the poppier, catchier songs on the record. It doesn’t really strike me as an interesting song, but an easy listen as far as pop-punk goes. “Self Portrait”, which also received a music video, has guitar and bass riffs that are more memorable, and the drums feel more alive and dynamic. However, it still is lacking a little personality. Track 6, “Unwell”, is where this record becomes its own creation and feels more like the band is itself. This is a perfect example of the band trying something new, with an acoustic folky opening riff. As the song progresses, it turns into a heavy slam, almost metal-like breakdown feel, then right back to the acoustic guitar. It ends on a beautiful string and keyboard part that seems to come out of nowhere. Sonically, it feels fresh, unlike the beginning of the album. Track 8, “TVI” is the last track to receive a music video. This is where the band feels more at home. Jangly guitar tones, a loud chorus, and more singable vocal lines. Surf Curse meets west coast punk is the feeling that comes to mind with this track. The closer, “Randall Flagg,” is nothing too exciting.

Magic Hour is a bit of a disappointment. Seeing this band get a major record deal with the indie surf rock touch they brought was an exciting opportunity, but ultimately, the feel was lost. Seeing this with the band only on their fourth LP is almost heartbreaking. To say they “sold out” would be too harsh, but it certainly feels like it. Of course, change and evolution are important to all bands, but no small part of the tracks seem to lack any sense of the band’s identity.

The album featured tracks like "Freaks" and "All Is Lost," which showcased the band's ability to create infectious hooks and deliver introspective lyrics. With "Sad Boys," Surf Curse gained a devoted following and began to garner attention from music critics. Their relatable and honest lyrics, combined with their energetic live performances, resonated with audiences and helped them establish a dedicated fanbase.

Surf Curse continued to build on their success in the following years, releasing albums like "Nothing Yet" in 2017 and "Heaven Surrounds You" in 2019. These albums showcased the band's growth and maturity, both musically and lyrically, and cemented their reputation as one of the leading indie rock acts of their generation. Despite their rising popularity, Surf Curse has managed to maintain their DIY ethos and stay true to their artistic vision. They continue to release music independently and actively engage with their fans through social media and touring. Surf Curse's unique blend of surf rock and post-punk, coupled with their introspective lyrics and raw energy, has garnered them a dedicated following and solidified their place in the indie rock scene. As they continue to evolve and release new music, it's clear that Surf Curse will remain an influential force in the music industry..

Reviews for "Surf Curse's 2015 Songwriting Process: From Concept to Reality"

1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with Surf Curse's 2015 album. I had heard so many great things about them, but this album just fell flat for me. The songs all sounded very similar, with repetitive lyrics and a lack of variation in the instrumentation. It felt like I was listening to the same song over and over again. I was hoping for more diversity and innovation in their sound, but this album just didn't deliver.

2. Alex - 2/5 - Surf Curse's 2015 album was a letdown for me. I had high expectations based on the positive reviews I read, but I couldn't connect with the music at all. The lyrics felt shallow and uninspired, and the songs lacked the energy and passion I was hoping for. It was a forgettable listening experience, and I found myself losing interest halfway through the album. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this album to others.

3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found Surf Curse's 2015 album to be incredibly underwhelming. The songs lacked depth and felt formulaic, with predictable chord progressions and melodies. I was hoping for more creativity and originality from the band, but I felt like I had heard it all before. The lyrics were also quite cliché and didn't resonate with me. Overall, I was left wanting more and felt like this album was a missed opportunity for Surf Curse.

4. Thomas - 2/5 - Surf Curse's 2015 album didn't live up to the hype for me. The songs all blended together and lacked distinctiveness. I found myself getting bored and losing interest throughout the album. The vocals were also grating and didn't add anything to the overall sound. I was hoping for a more memorable and impactful listening experience, but unfortunately, this album fell short for me. I wouldn't recommend it to others.

Breaking Down Surf Curse's Lyrics: Exploring Themes in 2015 Songs