Artist:     The Shondes

Album:     Brighton

Label:     Exotic Fever Records

Release Date:     09/16/16

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Pop-rock permeates off of the Shondes new release. Brighton brings you back to the early 2000’s with tracks that could very well have been found in a romantic comedy, but in the best possible way. It borders pop and indie-rock and shines with well written lyrics. The vocals on “Everything Good” is a well produced girl driven pop-rock that demonstrates the Shondes ability to write a great pop song. “My Ghost” shines lyrically, “It would’ve been easier to keep you my ghost/ but this is the ocean’s wind/ the curve of the coast/ and you are impossibly close.” This was one of the tracks that I was immediately drawn to, pulling my car over and stopping by the side of the road to write down lyrics that took me by surprise.

With all the good elements on the album, there were some things I did not quite enjoy. Although the album itself is good there were certain tracks that seemed a bit boring. “Holding Out” was one I could not bring myself to listen to again. “Carrison Crow” starts off as a heavier track, but you soon come to realize that it is a light pop track in disguise. I as excited to hear a different style, but that song quickly got lost in the other tracks on the record, not making much of a statement.

The Shondes exhibit potential and a hand at writing catchy tracks.The band has been releasing albums for a few years, and clearly have a long career ahead of them. For the right listener Brighton will be a treat. The Shondes have nowhere to go but up from here.

– Claudia Arnoldo