Never Not Together
by Nada Surf
  • Record Label: Barsuk
  • Release Date: Feb 7, 2020
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. AllMusic
    Feb 7, 2020
    90
    There's nothing bad about taking such a big swing; it's definitely better than pulling your punches at this point in your career. As with much of Never Not Together, it's beautifully thoughtful and fantastically ambitious.
  2. Variety
    Feb 7, 2020
    89
    There are many fine songs on “Never Not Together.” ... But The Moment doesn’t come until track six, and it’s a doozy: Halfway through an oddly nursery-rhyme-like song that opens with children singing, the band eases into a majestic chord progression that suddenly erupts into a massive, glorious chorus that they’re smart enough to ride for the next three minutes, milking it with a guitar solo and an unusual B-section before ending on an inconclusive chord, as if pausing before going on forever. With more Moments like that, we’ll be writing about Nada Surf for another 24 years.
  3. PopMatters
    Feb 13, 2020
    80
    Never Not Together is the best record Nada Surf have made in quite a while, and it's worth giving it a listen for any lapsed fans.
  5. Glide Magazine
    Feb 7, 2020
    80
    With Never Not Together, Nada Surf adds more songs destined to become fan favorites to their catalogue.
  6. Mojo
    Feb 6, 2020
    80
    Familiar bittersweet flavours are sensitively tweaked - Looking For You's orchestral surges; Live Learn And Forget's flickering piano - Nada Surf's cathartic heartbursts remain in perfect harmony. [Mar 2020, p.96]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Exclaim
    Feb 6, 2020
    80
    A welcome late-career gem.
  8. Classic Rock Magazine
    Feb 6, 2020
    70
    It's clear that this form of musical self-help will have even the most mixed-up fan feeling slightly zen. [Mar 2020, p.89]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Jamesl1981
    Aug 12, 2022
    1
    I have been a fan of this band for so long!!!! I remember queuing outside my local record shop for High/low (1996!!). I cannot understand howI have been a fan of this band for so long!!!! I remember queuing outside my local record shop for High/low (1996!!). I cannot understand how any fans of the band like this album. The band have evolved and to some extent kept their rock indie roots (Lucky, Stars are indifferent to astrology) but I saw slowly with 'you know who you are' things were going a bit down hill. Jangly and synth over tones. Now this album....I could not connect with it, I couldn't understand how you can go from "When I Was Young" (stars are indifferent to astrology) an amazing song to 'so much love' which is just a boring, rotational song. Maybe the band have grown up and are all happy and stuff, but I wish they turned the bass up and got rid of the synth, piano stuff. I feel the loss of driven guitar layers behind MC strong rhythm is and DC Bass is too low in the mix. I need some distortion and the feel of indie rock back here and maybe I have just to a stage where the band is going in a direction I cannot follow. Sorry guys but this album is just not for me, I have tried and tried but I cannot find one song i like. Praying the next one is a les paul driven rock album and not a Styx influenced thing.… Full Review »
  2. david5150
    Feb 21, 2020
    10
    Brillantes y enérgicos como siempre. La vuelta de uno de los mejores grupos de power pop de la historia.
  3. Jeff-S
    Feb 18, 2020
    9
    This is my first Nada Surf listen and I think this album is sensational. There is not a bad song throughout. Their sound is in the vein ofThis is my first Nada Surf listen and I think this album is sensational. There is not a bad song throughout. Their sound is in the vein of Death Cab but more melodic like The Gin Blossoms or Toad the Wet Sprocket. It was well received on NPR and they were spot on.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »