This USA alternative indie rock band have a habit of creating very distinctive and excellent albums. Performing alongside label mates Azure Ray and Bright Eyes last year in Manchester, I was also mightily impressed with the band’s live quality. I would therefore be surprised if Tim Kasher’s band The Good Life were to produce a poor album. No surprises here then…

This is essentially a very different album while sustaining the band’s innate introspection. The overall vibe is rock with strong pop sensibilities, and at a pace that is consistently more relaxed. There’s also a very strong acoustic ambience as exhibited on the opening track Album of The Year. Kasher gives a detached vocal performance as he describes the more physical aspects of lost love. There’s a strong melody, nice changes of pace, assertive sound and a vibe that makes one sit up and listen to every lyric to hear what’s coming next. Excellent.

A gentle fun fair ride instrumental ambience introduces the next wonderful track, Night And Day. Kashner changes his vocal delivery to one that is both contemplative and expressive in a moving love song that just quietly vanishes into the distance. Lovely. An intimate, haunting vibe envelopes the text track, Under A Honeymoon, until the instruments rock out for the closing passages, with Kashner’s voice soaring in concert. Superb.

And that’s only the first three tracks! The quality and diversity continues for another nine songs, including the honky-tonk, epic ambience of You’re No Fool; the quick-fire rock pace of Notes In His Pocket; and sweet pop vibe of Inmates.

Fans will delight in this album, while it also serves as an accessible and entertaining introduction to the uninitiated. A great album by a highly individual band.

4.5/5