Surf Curse is an indie rock band from Reno, Nevada, formed by childhood friends Nick Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck. The band's music is characterized by its lo-fi production, catchy melodies, and reflective lyrics. **One of the most notable features of Surf Curse's discography is the vast collection of songs they have released over the years.** From their early EPs like "Buds" and "Sad Boys" to their full-length albums such as "Nothing Yet" and "Heaven Surrounds You," Surf Curse has consistently impressed listeners with their unique sound and relatable themes. Their songs often touch on themes of love, heartbreak, and youthful angst, resonating with a wide range of listeners. Tracks like "Christine F" and "All is Lost" showcase their ability to blend energetic guitar riffs with heartfelt lyrics, creating a captivating and emotional listening experience.
I feel like this may be controversial with putting Nothing Yet so high but honestly I enjoy every song on the album while Sad Boys only has about 2 tracks I listen to regularly and Heaven Surrounds You is pretty bloated in my opinion. Anyways Buds is number 1 for its most consistent and there’s not really a track I dislike. Jacob’s voice isn’t the best but I find it to still be really charming. Nothing Yet has great songs but my only flaw with it is its length. The sound pallet and production are consistent and for the feel of the album which always reminds me of driving through a city at night. It also has mostly songs based off movies to convey feelings. Id say this is the thing Surf Curse does best and is sorta like a trademark for them. Sad Boys production feels like Buds but not as lofi. Buds didn’t have the same lofi-ness as early Beach Fossils or the demo tape but it is still filled with colorful peaks reminiscent of White Light / White Heat by the Velvet Underground. Beach Whatever and Forever Dumb and I’m Not Making Out With You are it’s standout tracks and I don’t really care for the others. Heaven Surrounds You started seeing them turn into basic indie pop but still a pretty good record nonetheless. I think quite a few tracks could’ve been cut but I think Map to the Stars, Midnight Cowboy, Hour of the Wolf, and Opera are some of their best tracks. I feel like Magic Hour is self explanatory. I mean Nothing Yet to Heaven Surrounds You makes sense as an evolution but Magic Hour doesn’t even sound surf rock. It sounds like dad rock and dated despite coming out only a few months ago. I guess you could make the argument that I just need for it to grow on me but the weird thing is that while Voyager was an album that heavily grew on me, I still enjoyed it on the first listen. When listening to Magic Hour, I kept checking to see how much longer until the album was finished which really doesn’t make an album fun to listen to. The record felt more like a push from the label to make a TikTok and radio friendly album when Voyager obviously had a ton of passion and love going into it. Every other SC album has a ton of teenage and adolescent vibes to them which is lacking on Magic Hour. You’d expect for this to mean that Magic Hour feels mature but it doesn’t. I don’t know how it feels.
When listening to Magic Hour, I kept checking to see how much longer until the album was finished which really doesn t make an album fun to listen to. I feel like this may be controversial with putting Nothing Yet so high but honestly I enjoy every song on the album while Sad Boys only has about 2 tracks I listen to regularly and Heaven Surrounds You is pretty bloated in my opinion.
Tracks like "Christine F" and "All is Lost" showcase their ability to blend energetic guitar riffs with heartfelt lyrics, creating a captivating and emotional listening experience. **Another standout aspect of Surf Curse's songs is their ability to capture a sense of nostalgia and longing.** Tracks like "Midnight Cowboy" and "Forever Dumb" transport listeners to a bygone era, evoking a sense of bittersweet reminiscence.
Ranking of the Surf Curse albums
I feel like this may be controversial with putting Nothing Yet so high but honestly I enjoy every song on the album while Sad Boys only has about 2 tracks I listen to regularly and Heaven Surrounds You is pretty bloated in my opinion. Anyways Buds is number 1 for its most consistent and there’s not really a track I dislike. Jacob’s voice isn’t the best but I find it to still be really charming. Nothing Yet has great songs but my only flaw with it is its length. The sound pallet and production are consistent and for the feel of the album which always reminds me of driving through a city at night. It also has mostly songs based off movies to convey feelings. Id say this is the thing Surf Curse does best and is sorta like a trademark for them. Sad Boys production feels like Buds but not as lofi. Buds didn’t have the same lofi-ness as early Beach Fossils or the demo tape but it is still filled with colorful peaks reminiscent of White Light / White Heat by the Velvet Underground. Beach Whatever and Forever Dumb and I’m Not Making Out With You are it’s standout tracks and I don’t really care for the others. Heaven Surrounds You started seeing them turn into basic indie pop but still a pretty good record nonetheless. I think quite a few tracks could’ve been cut but I think Map to the Stars, Midnight Cowboy, Hour of the Wolf, and Opera are some of their best tracks. I feel like Magic Hour is self explanatory. I mean Nothing Yet to Heaven Surrounds You makes sense as an evolution but Magic Hour doesn’t even sound surf rock. It sounds like dad rock and dated despite coming out only a few months ago. I guess you could make the argument that I just need for it to grow on me but the weird thing is that while Voyager was an album that heavily grew on me, I still enjoyed it on the first listen. When listening to Magic Hour, I kept checking to see how much longer until the album was finished which really doesn’t make an album fun to listen to. The record felt more like a push from the label to make a TikTok and radio friendly album when Voyager obviously had a ton of passion and love going into it. Every other SC album has a ton of teenage and adolescent vibes to them which is lacking on Magic Hour. You’d expect for this to mean that Magic Hour feels mature but it doesn’t. I don’t know how it feels.
In addition to their studio albums, Surf Curse has also released a number of singles, further expanding their discography. **Songs like "Freaks" and "Disco" show the band's versatility, with their upbeat and danceable tunes adding a new dimension to their sound.** **Overall, Surf Curse's compilation of songs reflects their unique style and passion for creating music that resonates with listeners on an emotional level.** Their ability to blend catchy melodies, relatable lyrics, and a touch of nostalgia has garnered them a dedicated fanbase and cemented their place in the indie rock scene..
Reviews for "Surf Curse's Surf-Rock Anthems: A Compilation Playlist"
1. Jane - 1/5
I was really disappointed with this compilation of songs by Surf Curse. I had heard so many great things about the band and was excited to give their music a chance. However, I found the songs to be repetitive and lacking in originality. The lyrics were shallow and lacked any depth or meaningfulness. I was hoping for something with more substance, but this compilation fell short of my expectations. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and unimpressive collection of songs.
2. John - 2/5
I have to admit, I was not a fan of this compilation by Surf Curse. While there were a few standout tracks that had catchy melodies, the majority of the songs blended together and sounded too similar. The lack of variety and innovation in their sound was disappointing. Additionally, the lyrics felt forced and lacked any real emotion. Overall, I found this compilation to be underwhelming and mundane. I won't be returning to it anytime soon.
3. Emily - 2.5/5
I didn't hate the compilation of songs by Surf Curse, but I definitely didn't love it either. While there were a couple of songs that caught my attention, the majority of the tracks fell flat for me. The band's sound felt generic and unoriginal, lacking any real uniqueness. The lyrics were also quite repetitive and failed to engage me. Overall, it was an average collection of songs that failed to leave a lasting impression. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others, but I wouldn't discourage them from giving it a listen either.
4. Alex - 2/5
I found the compilation of songs by Surf Curse to be quite disappointing. The band's music lacked any real depth or complexity, making it feel shallow and uninspiring. The melodies were forgettable and failed to leave a lasting impact. The overall sound and arrangement of the songs felt formulaic and predictable. I was hoping for something more innovative and exciting, but unfortunately, this compilation didn't deliver. I won't be revisiting it anytime soon.
5. Mark - 1.5/5
I was really hoping to enjoy this compilation by Surf Curse, but it just didn't do it for me. The songs felt monotonous and lacked any real energy or passion. I found the lyrics to be forgettable and cliché, which made it difficult for me to connect with the music on a deeper level. The vocals were also quite lackluster, failing to bring any real emotion or intensity to the songs. Overall, I was left feeling unimpressed and uninterested. This compilation was a miss for me.