The Only Place delivers riveting drama in a rousing pop package, with Brion rescuing Best Coast from the fuzzed-out, lo-fi indie template, cleaning up their sound and enhancing the potential for mainstream appeal exponentially without diminishing their artistic credibility.
While Crazy For You sounded like fog rolling in over the bay with its reverb-heavy production, The Only Place effectively burns it off, even when Cosentino's dear-diary lyrics are at their gloomiest.
The album does have its charms. Cosentino is still in fine voice, and she continues to have a warm and agreeable persona... [Yet linear] thinking permeates The Only Place, a grinding sense of marks being hit while inspiration is in short order.
While there's certainly something to be said for BestCoast's paeans to the utopian side of life near the Pacific, the subtle shifts in Cosentino's songwriting are best experienced when the rays of sunshine are muted.
I love this album. Let me begin by saying that I did not listen to Best Coast's first album before hearing this one, and I have not heard itI love this album. Let me begin by saying that I did not listen to Best Coast's first album before hearing this one, and I have not heard it all the way through as of writing this. So my perspective comes independent of their previous work.
All of the critical reviews I've read say two things: the lyrics are too formulated and the album lacks depth/maturity. I respond with the following: lyrics are written, they are not spawned. They don't materialize in the depths of the soul and come flying out of the pen. You think of them with your brain and you write them. Criticizing lyrics for being formulated and thought-out is like criticizing a painting for being too painted. That's just not reasonable. Bethany obviously thought about these lyrics and wrote them for a reason, and it's not fair in the slightest to say that they lack meaning or depth. They have great meaning and depth to her, and to a great many listeners.
Musically, I do not disagree that the songs sound similar and simplistic. 1) That's kind of the whole point of this genre of beach-y, surf-y, indie rock. It's not a symphonic composition, it's a pop song. It's simple, it's easy to sing along to, and it's fun. 2) Simplicity and similarity do not mean immaturity and thoughtlessness. These songs have a great deal of power, and if that isn't clear, you have not given the album a fair listen. I can't speak to how far they've "progressed" from their first album, as I haven't heard that one. But again I think it unfair to say that a band has to change their sound by "x" amount on each release. This album is sonically very different from (what parts I have heard of) the other album without leaving the neighborhood. Production-wise, there is no comparison; this album sounds great.
This isn't the greatest album of all time, it probably will not win any awards. And that isn't really important. The album is fun and worthwhile, and it is a joy to listen to. I have no complaints.…Expand
I just heard the song No One Like You and I was pretty sold. It was an interesting listen, although it doesn't really seem like they haveI just heard the song No One Like You and I was pretty sold. It was an interesting listen, although it doesn't really seem like they have progressed since there last album. They are just in the same stage as they were; which isn't so bad in the end.…Expand
Best Coast's second album seems to ditch the Lo-Fi sound, which I had enjoyed a lot; however, with better production value, the album exposesBest Coast's second album seems to ditch the Lo-Fi sound, which I had enjoyed a lot; however, with better production value, the album exposes increased depth in lyrics (compared to 'Crazy for You') and Bethany Consentino's vocal talents. Some tracks have more of a somber tone, which is different from their debut album. Not every track is a stunner, but it definitely worth the listen!
Favorite tracks: Dreaming My Life Away, The Only Place, Why I Cry…Expand
Best Coast could be taking their sound to more grown-up landscapes, but it appears that they're heading down a very, very long road that willBest Coast could be taking their sound to more grown-up landscapes, but it appears that they're heading down a very, very long road that will only see Best Coast limiting themselves to making music that only becomes the soundtrack to summer, rather than the whole year through. If Best Coast want to stay this way, then I suppose it's an accessible option that keeps their avid fans pleased - but if this really is the best coast, I'll be staying at home in the UK for my holidays this year.…Expand
This album REALLY disappointed me. Crazy for You was fun and breezy, and the kitschy lyrics could be forgiven amidst the great melodies andThis album REALLY disappointed me. Crazy for You was fun and breezy, and the kitschy lyrics could be forgiven amidst the great melodies and stoner vibes. But trying to go all Neko Case on us Best Coast ends up falling flat on their face. Thing whole country thing just flat out doesnt work. Maybe if the rhymes weren't recycled from the last album and the subject matter matched the aesthetic, the album can be enjoyed, but the whole album just seems at odds with itself. But lets give credit where credit is due. With her vocals right up front in the mix, Beth Cosentino shows just how great her voice is, something that I think a lot of people missed on the first album, which again was a great album and I dont think a complete re-hashing of it would have worked out either so trying a new sound is at least commendable but just not likeable in this case.…Expand
I'd been looking forward to this album since my first listen of Crazy for You. With only one track that I have any desire to listen to onI'd been looking forward to this album since my first listen of Crazy for You. With only one track that I have any desire to listen to on repeat, The Only Place is most certainly a disappointment. This album is completely lacking in the catchy melodies and memorable riffs that made Crazy for You so great. Bethany uses her lyrics rather than her songwriting to continue the beachy Southern California vibe that held the first album together so successfully through it's music. I was expecting a sophomore slump from Best Coast, but The Only Place just sounds empty. I did find a couple of saving graces however, in Bethany's new and improved clean vocals, first hinted at in the iTunes Session, and in the standout track, "No One Like You" which is really the only track that sounds new AND maintains the standard set by the first album, hinting at a possible future direction for the band perhaps? Well, time to get excited about album number three.…Expand
We profile the most noteworthy albums scheduled to arrive between now and August, including new releases from Fiona Apple, Beach House, Hot Chip, Neil Young, Sigur Ros, Regina Spektor, The Walkmen, and more. You can also sample audio and video from each of the albums.
Published: May 9, 2012We profile the most noteworthy albums scheduled to arrive between now and August, including new releases from Fiona Apple, Beach House, Hot Chip, Neil Young, Sigur Ros, Regina Spektor, The Walkmen, and more. You can also sample audio and video from each of the albums.