Surfer Blood
Snowdonia
(Joyful Noise)
The turbulent path of Florida’s Surfer Blood culminated last year with the untimely death of their guitarist Thomas Fekete. Their 4th album, and first with 2 new members, would give the band reason to dive into darker waters, but instead they use tragedy to reinvent themselves while still forging on with the band’s bright guitar pop. Rather than wallow, frontman John Paul Pitts chooses contemplation and optimism, and while the album might on the surface appear oddly upbeat all things considered, there’s lyrical depth towards loved ones, and the opening of a new chapter by venturing into alien territory for Surfer Blood. Sure, the Pixies influenced beach rock from their formative years is still in tow, but as the listen progresses we get blues and spaghetti western sounds that actually keep my interest piqued as to what is next for Surfer Blood.
