Album Review: Best Coast The Only Place

While we admired Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno's 2010 record, Crazy For You, for its tight mix of garage/surf indie rock tunes, The Only Place sees the duo develop and mature, while keeping their iconic sound. They've significantly eased back on the distortion, allowing Cosentino's emotionally drenched lyrics to shine across all 11 tracks, emphasised by her pitch-perfect vocals.

Her honesty and simplicity can be endearing in their bluntness, but the subject of each song – primarily how Cosentino feels, and why she feels that way – can be bland, repetitive and in the end, boring. It's a common moment when she's singing about her mental state, the person who captivates her affection, or any subject of her woes, and most of the time it's a combination of the three. Thankfully, the vocals are well executed, lifting the subject matter; Bruno's guitar work, which can be energetic, swift and unrelenting, as demonstrated in the title track, is also a highlight. The homage to their native state of California is perhaps the most light-hearted song on the album. It contains classic surf rhythms, also found in Why I Cry and Let's Go Home, making you believe there are several more members of the band. Of particular interest is the integration of flourishing violin and piano, as well as the layered percussion and guitar, which highlight Bobb Bruno's talents and the duo's chemistry.

Overall, what Best Coast has crafted is an effective, charming record filled with paradoxes and executed in their concise, playful style.