Review Summary: Playin' hooky
For those familiar only with Blind Pilot’s scintillating debut, a first listen to the group’s sophomore effort,
We are the Tide, is a potential nightmare. Early impressions likely suggest this record is the sound of the band chasing that age-old siren song of pop appeal, leaning into more straightforward song structures and catchy choruses above all else.
There’s some truth in that assessment. This album’s first half is littered with tunes, like “Half Moon”, “Keep You Right”, and the title track, which are unabashed in their reliance on overt earworm melodies, are simple to hum along to, the whole shebang… But to dismiss this record as Blind Pilot throwing away what made them great in an attempt (which ultimately proved futile) to make the "big time" is ultimately quite simplistic. For one thing, Blind Pilot have always known their way around a hook - indeed, that was one of the foremost of the ample strengths displayed on their stunning debut
3 Rounds and a Sound. For another, the band’s most obvious attempts at broader appeal here still read as Blind Pilot songs through and through - “Half Moon” and the title track are total jams with lyrical themes which feel inimitable to the group, while “Keep You Right” might be a somewhat generic choon, but it’s very well-executed nonetheless.
This defense of
We are the Tide doesn’t mean that I’d argue it fully measures up to the band’s illustrious debut in quality, though. The record’s primary issue lies in the back half of the tracklist, with the run of tunes from “The Colored Night” through “Get It Out” feeling far less substantial than the album’s first stretch (or the final track, we’ll get to that later). All of these songs are good pieces of indie folk (and some are quite great), but they’re notably subdued and are a bit incongruous when associated with the high-energy and more memorable tracks earlier in the album, while also frequently paling in comparison to the top-tier tunes which populated Blind Pilot’s first album.
That’s the bottom line - Blind Pilot may’ve spoiled us a little too much with
3 Rounds and a Sound. That still leaves
We are the Tide as a firmly underrated record - even if the album suffers from a lack of focus throughout its runtime, and the material may occasionally be a bit over-concentrated on flashy hooks over substance, the tunes also remain consistently thoughtful, emotive, and immensely charming. Closer “New York” amplifies this truth, as a warm nearly six-minute slow-burner which stands as one of the band’s crowning achievements. In the words of its memorable chorus - “
I got wise and I got old, but not once, not once did I fold”. Words to live by, and that’s where I’ll leave you, dear reader. An increasingly old but perhaps not so wise individual, signing off for now.
