Album Review: Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Californian 'indie-rockers', Dawes, present us with a more matured and expansive sound with their latest release, Nothing Is Wrong. The album continues in the musical tradition they laid down in their predecessor, keeping with the band's distinguishable sound that comfortably encompasses warm, soaring melodies and the distinctive twang of country-infused harmonies and vocals, reminiscent of those '70s American greats. This sound has ovbiously proven popular, cementing their reputation and demonstrating what they do well – evoking a past style with ease and grace, producing a solid sound that demonstrates the cohesiveness of the band.

Thematically, their album reflects the days beyond their debut, North Hills, with the band commenting on their itinerancy and the challenges of touring, which we see in opener, Time Spent In Los Angeles, as vocalist Taylor Goldsmith seems to lament “These days my friends don't seem to know me, Without my suitcase in my hand”, the  theme continued through in My Way Back Home, which is also centred around the challenges of creativity on the road. The subject of a seemingly endless stream of women permeates the album, taking up much of the focus and making it, at times, tiresome.

Notable tracks, Fire Away and Million Dollar Bill, strip back the stasis of the record and refresh it from those structural elements that cause it to sound stale at times. Otherwise, Dawes have produced a firm and stable record, entwined with the classic West Coast vibe they've built upon and mastered in this release.

If you're already a fan, you'll probably like this album, because nothing is wrong with it, really. But if you're a newcomer this may not be the album to convert you. Don't expect anything new.