Nada Surf: Lucky

Label: Barsuk

If your familiarity with Nada Surf is limited to their Weezer-esque mid-90s alt-rock radio hit “Popular,” you’ve missed out on a group maturing from those dime-a-dozen copycat beginnings to become true indie songsmiths. Their fifth full-length, Lucky, expands on the strengths of 2005’s great The Weight Is a Gift, pushing the band’s sound into more complex songwriting waters. The emotional range on this record is vast, from driving near anthems to breezy summer-morning vibes, and singer/guitarist Matthew Caw’s voice floats effortlessly and naturally atop all of it. The constant lyrical themes throughout the songs are restlessness, longing and the elusiveness of love, but you’d barely know it from the chiming, almost hopeful sounding guitars, perfect harmonies and propulsive rhythms. The first pressing comes with a bonus disc including 4 non-album tracks. (Fred)