Summer Thieves - Album Review: Paradise Down The Road
As a cyclone bears down on the city, I’m hoping that Summer returns to us… especially with this, what could
be the soundtrack to the summer, the second album release from pop-indie outfit Summer Thieves.
The opening track Pages straddles a gentle reggae beat and a chorus that cries out for a beach day party. With the relaxation-months upon us, this five piece, led by vocalist Jake Barton are bringing a sonic mash up which delivers pop lyrics with, at times,
soulful delivery, sweet guitar solos, and a perfect antidote to the confines and routines of everyday life.
It’s easy listening, yet it’s clever. There’s a dose of optimism in the catchy lyrics – ‘I’m not lost but I’m searching for my purpose’ sings Barton in Potions. The imagery is straightforward and catches a common sense of purpose, we might all feel at one time or another.
I enjoyed the acoustic guitar led track, in All for You and there’s a good dose of considering our emotional lives as you move through the album. Things ramp up in tracks like Paper Tiger. Spotify recently went through a change in their software so that artists could share their albums in an order which they specify – and this seems important for this album. Listen to it in its intended order – I hear that there has been careful consideration in the album track orders - like a musical journey. Things slow down for penultimate track Floating Away, it’s a sort of one-sided conversation, probably a lot like those conversations we have with ourselves at times, lost in thought. In the final track, it feels like a push to a slightly more bluesy pop track, the raspy vocals and chilled vibe make it an easy listen. There isn’t a track that I don’t like, but I’d probably say that Pages and Saturday Night are my favourites. If we can have summer back now, please, this is your perfect road trip soundtrack.
About Summer Thieves
Singer and guitarist Jake Barton and drummer Johnny Ward began playing together in high school, before joining forces with Adam Spencer (bass) to Summer Thieves. Starting at Dunedin Scarfie parties and covers gigs, they quickly became a crowd favourite, amassing a legion of dedicated fans nationwide. Since forming, Summer Thieves have expanded to a five-piece line-up recruiting Izzy Bones (keys and guitar) and Jarni Blair (lead guitar).
After releasing a run of singles, they released their debut album, Warped, a 12-track journey laced with catchy hooks and hypnotic rhythms produced by Tiki Taane. The following years saw the band become a regular on the festival circuit, with multiple performances across the likes of Rhythm & Vines, Bay Dreams, Rhythm & Alps and Soundsplash.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Summer Thieves
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