Surf Curse is an American indie rock band that gained popularity with their album "Heaven Surrounds You". Recently, they released their latest album titled "Magic Hour". This album showcases a darker and more introspective side of the band. The main idea behind this album is to explore the complexities of love and relationships through a dreamy and atmospheric sound. The album is divided into two parts, with the first half focusing on the excitement and anticipation of new love, while the second half delves into the heartache and confusion that comes with a breakup. The band's signature lo-fi sound is still present, but there is a noticeable growth in their songwriting and production.
"TVI" sounds a lot like their early material, energetic surf punk mixed with power pop, really playful and uplifting. Fairly strange placement in the album
Self Portrait is my favourite from the bunch since it manages so well to be abrasive yet full of vulnerability, it s almost a post-hardcore song, which I didn t expect and 2 38 gives me goosebumps every single time I hear it. Unwell takes the energy down a notch and it leans purely into vulnerability, it almost reminds me of The 1975 in the first minute and a half of the song, then it explodes into heavy menacing guitars and ends with a surprising piano and violin part, perhaps it would ve been a good idea to put this track at the very end.
The band's signature lo-fi sound is still present, but there is a noticeable growth in their songwriting and production. The lyrics are poetic and evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing. Songs like "Disco" and "Midnight Cowboy" capture the essence of the album and stand out as highlights.
Surf curse magic hour album
This might be their most diverse release so far and I'm absolutely here for it
The album begins with "Arrow" reminiscent of 90's Pavementeque slacker rock. A fairly good vibey and energetic lil song that's trying to prime you for the pain that's to come
"Cathy " is a mellow Smashing Pumpkins flavored jangly piece of music with a slightly cheesy vocal delivery on the chorus
"Sugar " almost sounds like heartland rock, and it's where I feel that the gut punching part of the album begins. The lyrics are pretty sparse, but it makes up for that with raw emotion
"Lost Honor " is a good old indie rock and post-punk revival-tinged song, I think that people who like Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever will enjoy this (including myself)
The lyrics really hit home. 2:45+ is really anthemic and it makes you want to sing along to
"Self Portrait" is my favourite from the bunch since it manages so well to be abrasive yet full of vulnerability, it's almost a post-hardcore song, which I didn't expect and 2:38+ gives me goosebumps every single time I hear it. An almost perfect song
"Unwell" takes the energy down a notch and it leans purely into vulnerability, it almost reminds me of The 1975 in the first minute and a half of the song, then it explodes into heavy menacing guitars and ends with a surprising piano and violin part, perhaps it would've been a good idea to put this track at the very end
"Strange" is a fairly forgettable slacker rock tune
"TVI" sounds a lot like their early material, energetic surf punk mixed with power pop, really playful and uplifting. Fairly strange placement in the album
"Little Rock 'n' Roller" is a little indie rock tune that fans of Twin Peaks and perhaps Peach Pit will probably enjoy. Nothing special really
"No Tomorrows" is a slow bedroom pop tune, something like Yellow Days or Palace that turns into noisy psychedelia towards the end. Can't say I care much for it
"Fear City" now this is something I didn't expect, or perhaps I should have expected since these last few years UK based art punk was all the rage. They did a flawless job at incorporating the saxophone (even if they could've played more diversified notes on it) and the subdued/energetic parts are almost perfectly blended in
"Randall Flagg" is yet another Pavementesque slacker rock tune that is executed really well and has probably the best lyrical content on this album
I rate it 7.5 due to the presence of a few fillers, and some songs that although good they felt quite derivative.
Favorite tracks:
-Self Portrait
-Sugar
-TVI
-Fear City
Least favorite tracks:
-Strange
-Little Rock 'n' Roller
"Little Rock 'n' Roller" is a little indie rock tune that fans of Twin Peaks and perhaps Peach Pit will probably enjoy. Nothing special really
Overall, "Magic Hour" is a beautiful and melancholic album that showcases Surf Curse's growth as a band and their ability to create music that resonates with listeners..
Reviews for "The Atmospheric Sound of Surf Curse's "Magic Hour"
- Sarah - ⭐
Honestly, I was really disappointed with Surf Curse's Magic Hour album. I was a huge fan of their previous work, but this one just didn't do it for me. The lyrics felt repetitive and lacked depth, and the overall sound felt generic and uninspired. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this album, but it fell flat.
- Mike - ⭐⭐
I've been a fan of Surf Curse for a while now, but their Magic Hour album just didn't resonate with me. The songs felt disjointed and lackluster, and I found myself skipping through most of them after just a few seconds. The production quality also seemed subpar, which was disappointing considering their previous releases. Overall, I was underwhelmed and didn't connect with this album at all.
- Emily - ⭐⭐⭐
As someone who has loved Surf Curse's previous music, I have to say that the Magic Hour album was a letdown. The band seemed to have lost their unique sound and opted for a more mainstream approach. The songs felt too polished and predictable, lacking the rawness and authenticity that I loved about their previous work. It's a shame because I had high expectations, but this album just didn't do it for me.
- Jason - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While I understand that art evolves, I was quite disappointed with Surf Curse's Magic Hour album. It felt like they were trying too hard to be experimental and ended up losing their charm in the process. The melodies were disjointed and hard to follow, and it didn't feel like the songs had a cohesive theme or message. I appreciate their attempt to push boundaries, but for me, it just didn't work.