Best Coast go through waves where they drive into era-based music and make it fresh for a new generation.
The seminal Crazy For You adopted ‘70s Californian surf rock, while The Only Place etched into southern ‘60s. Fade Away included contenders for the Joan Jett ‘80s rock revival and California Nights was a decade blend.
For 2020’s Always Tomorrow, even though The Go-Go’s, The B-52’s, Fleetwood Mac, The Bangles and Talking Heads were reference points, realistically it sits in with ‘90s rock jingles.
Bethany Cosentino strips the pessimistic lovelorn coating from the California Nights exterior and paints over it with a chirpy optimism that can at times come off as cringy.
Swaying in with ‘Different Light’, Best Coast lean into the ‘90s with doubled vocals and a punchy bridge, channelling Letters to Cleo circa 10 Things I Hate About You and ‘Everything Has Changed’ follows suit with Cosentino finding solid ground, but this is where things fall apart.
‘For The First Time’ is all cheese, no depth, and ‘Graceless Kids’ chugs along aimlessly. ‘Master Of My Own Mind’ saves some face up until the questionable bridge. ‘Seeing Red’ is a slight redemption.
There’s always tomorrow for Best Coast to put their best foot forward, this album isn’t it.
