Magic Hour
Surf Curse
BY ABBY VELA
With Surf Curse being my, “I liked them before they blew up” flex, it is only right that I take a good, hard look at their newest album, Magic Hour.
Surf Curse leans less into the surf rock aesthetic of its early years, revealing a progression from the lofi-surf rock moments in their previous album. Rather than tinny and punching guitar riffs, Magic Hours offers a wholly indie take. This was somewhat unexpected as the first single, “TVI,” has the same driving riffs of their first releases. I will say, their sound is much more mature, which I appreciate.
A highlight of this release is the instrumentation. Surf Curse takes inspiration from one of the members’ side projects, Current Joys, in the writing of this album. The repetition of complex guitar and bass lines is present in both projects, but Magic Hour shows a dancible side that sets it apart. While the core of this project is indie-rock, hints of Americana in songs like, “Strange,” and the jazz notes in, “Fear City,” keep the album moving with musical diversity.
The small pitfall of this album is its faltering lyrical significance. The lyrics, “Cathy, are you feeling grumpy?” are not all that tantalizing, and the song, “Last Honor,” isn’t bad, but it’s just a bit corny for my taste. Though, maybe I just need to lighten up a bit.
This album is an easy indie listen. While I could listen in order, I don’t need to for full enjoyment. It’s fun, and it feels like summer. That’s good enough for me.