RIYL: Fleet Foxes, Broken Social Scene, The National, Grizzly Bear
Back in 2010, LA-based Local Natives rocketed onto indie-rock playlists across the US and Europe with the release of their debut album ‘Gorilla Manor’. With gigs at the South by Southwest music festival in 2009 generating major buzz, the band wound up opening for big-name acts like Arcade Fire and The National and took the stage at a number of well-known festivals. The album eventually sold over 100,000 copies stateside and the stage was set for what could have been a completely understandable sophomore slump. Thankfully, ‘Hummingbird’, released in early 2013, is about as far from “slump” as you can get. Peaking at #12 on the Billboard Top 200, the album garnered widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike.
At its core, Hummingbird is a serious record, with songs that address loss, alienation and heartbreak with maturity and in the end, hopefulness. The album opens with two stunningly beautiful tracks. “You & I” is a moving breakup song with soaring vocal harmonies that bring to mind Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes. The song is both somber and surging, with percussion that’s more complex than typical indie fare.
”Heavy Feet” is even better, with polished piano chords and rolling snare accompanying lead singer Taylor Rice as he pines for a comely girl with ‘Powder in your hair’ and ‘Staples in your jeans.’ She might not be fully game, but when the chorus kicks in with hand-claps and Rice’s high-pitched crooning, a case is made for honoring beauty for beauty’s sake.
“Ceilings” unravels less conventionally than first two tracks with two verses, a chorus, and a quick finish but it’s a lovely experience to hear Rice’s phrasing in the chorus as he delivers the lines “All my silver dreams bring me to you.” The self-harmonizing is understated but pitch-perfect and practically hypnotic. After a short lull, “Breakers” kicks in with a more complex arrangement of guitars, piano, and synth stabs, but all the layers meld perfectly and Rice’s vocals once again elevate the experience towards something poignant and affecting.
Luckily, there’s plenty of more tracks that follow “Breathers”, and plenty more reasons to fall in love with this bewitching band.
