Nada Surf is here to lift your mood and remind you we're 'Never Not Together.'

Photo by Annie Dressner

Since the world is a dumpster fire right now, both literally and figuratively, and the pressure seems to only be increasing on everyone about everything, so this week I'm interrupting the previously planned editorial calendar to focus on music that is uplifting or transporting in a positive way for anyone who might need a 30 to 50 minute respite from it all before going back to fight the good fight.

Nada Surf is a band who offered distinct different entry points to different people over the years. I was introduced to them as a prematurely labeled one-hit wonder, but many others probably became fans during the group's early shift from more straightforward alterna-rock and started exploring deeper lyrical complexities while opening up their sound. Which means emo fans went ga-ga over albums like Let Go. This is not a veiled insult. And it opened the band to a broader reconsideration by the populace, to the benefit of all.

And then Nada Surf did the unspeakable: they just kept releasing really high quality music with an emotionally accessible core that felt spiritual and uplifting even when the lyrics might've veered into more dour or raw territory. And just kept the quality way up, over and over again. And I think people took them somewhat for granted because of that.

And Nada Surf did nothing to counter that viewpoint, and kept releasing a stable run of really impressive albums. So in some ways their constant excellence may be their biggest barrier to more widespread acclaim? 

This year's Never Not Together came out in February with huge touring and promotional plans ... and then disappeared from most of the musical conversations as the world shut down.* This is depressing not only because the album really deserves your attention, but also because it's truly a tonic for the soul. Jubilantly uplifting clouds of energetically strumming guitars lift you ever higher, song after song. And lest you miss the higher spiritual (not religious, spiritual) aspirations, halfway though one song kicks off with a choir.**

This is spiritual music in the life-affirming, good-for-you, feed the soul category. And most importantly, you just feel good, and positive, and human after riding its waves for 42 minutes. Repeat as needed.

*I know, a constant refrain from me these days, but worth repeating since it really is stunning how much terrific music has just disappeared this year with no touring to help keep the new works in the news cycle and heighten exposure.

**The shift between the frenetic "Something I Should Do" and the softer yearning of "Looking For You" is just so perfect.