Coasts: An Album Review

Photo courtesy of Bring the Noise UK

Rarely is it that I find an album that is consistent in sound and I find all songs likeable. So when a special album like Coasts’ 2016 self-titled collection is released, I cherish it and hold on to it because who knows when a favourable album like their’s will come along next.

I was first introduced to the five-piece English band when I heard their most popular song, Oceans. I’ve had it on my iTunes playlist for some time, but I picked up their full album only recently. I was hooked as the track list rolled through. I was, and still am, mesmerized by the summery, sun-kissed beats that make summer feel endless. 

There are sixteen songs on the deluxe album, including A Rush of Blood and Wallow. All of the tracks share a similar sound, something many artists struggle to establish. While driving with Coasts pumping out of the car speakers, windows rolled down, breeze pushing your hair back, you can mistake the album for a nostalgic time-piece, infusing freedom and adrenaline into your veins. Personally, I think Coasts’ album feeds any mood and setting, regardless of the circumstance. Whether you’re sitting around a fire with friends on the beach, kicking off your summer road trip, or walking home from a less than pleasing night; Coasts have a song for the context. 

For the most part the tracks are upbeat indie/rock/pop based, and supply the listener with an evocative wave of affection, leading you to miss the One That Got Away. “The whole album is inspired by so many different genres of music,” said the band in a Vevo interview. It is hard to define Coasts’ sound, as they draw influence from every corner of the music scene. Although they ooze originality, I would compare them to sounds like Wildcat! Wildcat!, Amber Run, Panama Wedding and Magic Man. 

Photo courtesy of Long Island Pulse

Because I enjoy the album so much, it’s hard to pinpoint any negatives. However, there is always room for improvement. In the future, I would love to see Coasts collaborate with a female voice; it would put a different spin on their already unique sound, and I think it would open up many opportunities to expand their career and exposure. 

Some of the less memorable songs like, Your Soul, Wash Away and Let Go, act as buffers to bring you from the beginning of the album to the end, without really noticing that you played the middle pieces already. The first half of the album is arguably stronger than the last half, with songs like Wolves, Lions and Modern Love pulling you into the calming blend of Stay, Tonight and As Long As I Need You. As a whole, however, the songs mesh together to create a familiar story of love and loss. 

Needless to say, if you are looking for a summer anthem that allows you to drift into September with memories of spontaneous nights by the water and running from the realities of life, check out Coasts and their self-titled debut album.