Zen brain (Nada Surf) (LP 3330 - 3336)

Nada Surf  high/low (CD, Elektra Records, 1996) ***  

Nada Surf  The Proximity Effect (CD, Elektra Records, 1998) ** 

Nada Surf  Let Go (CD, Barsuk Records, 2002) **** 

Nada Surf  Let Go (CD, Barsuk Records, 2002) **** 

Nada Surf  Lucky (CD, Barsuk Records, 2008) **** 

Nada Surf  if i had a hi-fi (CD, Mardev Records, 2010) **** 

Nada Surf  Live In Brussels (CD, Mardev Records, 2010) **** 

Genre: Alt-rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records; Kings Recording (Abu Dhabi); HMV; Fopp.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: 80 Windows, Stalemate (Live in Brussels)

Gear costume: Inside of Love (Let Go) 

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: High/low was the debut album by this American alt-rock band, produced by The Cars' Ric Ocasek. He has pop smarts and he helps the guys produce an excellent opening salvo.

Nada Surf are: Matthew Caws (guitar/vocals), Daniel Lorca (bass) and Ira Elliot (drums). Caws and Lorca are the Lennon/McCartney of the band.

The songs on the mid nineties debut are punchy in a Weezer sort of way. Helps that I like Weezer as well! I actually prefer Nada Surf though, as they seem to be happy to play around with their sound and song structures more.

The Proximity Effect suffers a bit from second album syndrome. There's nothing wrong with it as such but the songs aren't as memorable as those on their debut and Fred Maher's production isn't as poppy as Ric's. It's fine as it goes but it doesn't make any advances on High/Low.

Third album, Let Go, has a more mannered sound and shows a few different looks that weren't visible on the previous two albums. It's the best of their first three albums, and even gained some traction via TV and commercials. It's a much more mellow affair and is a successful reset for the band.

Lucky is their fifth studio album, and although the album cover looks black, it isn't - just a very low horizon shot that is quite stunning when you tilt the cover a certain way.

It's a reward for those like me, who stuck with the band - it's a mature sound, a long way from High/Low and (especially) The Proximity Effect. It's a tad heavier than Let Go, but only a tad. The Nada Surf pop hooks remain from that earlier record.

If i had a hi-fi (all lower case) signals a slight sideways movement, in that it's an album of cover versions. Thanks to the mostly obscure songs, it's one of those cool cover albums that sounds like the band's own work. Until The Moody Blues' Question pops up, that is. No mistaking that one.

Final album in my list is the Live In Brussels set. It's great! An excellent setlist that takes in the full range of their career. They are obviously an excellent live band and Matthew's French is flawless!

There are plenty of highlights but Stalemate is superb with the band morphing into Love Will Tear Us Apart, and Popular (from their first album) is given a great punk pop polish.

Where do they all belong? Keen to get the missing albums - The Weight Is A Gift, Never Not Together and Moon Mirror.