Album Review: Rogue Wave - Nightingale Floors

On the back of the harsh criticism that surrounded their last album Permalight, Oakland quintet Rogue Wave have presented us with a safe-sounding fifth studio album. Nightingale Floors resembles their albums from the early '00s, and offers an atmospheric, indie-pop sound that lacks the bite and individuality to be considered unforgettable.

The band sets the mood for the album with opening track No Magnatone: soft, stripped-back and simple. Followed by upbeat pop-rock song College, Rogue Wave make it clear that this album is a complete turnaround from their last exploration. Nightingale Floors explores a more emotional side to the band, written soon after the death of frontman Zach Schwartz' father. Reflective and highly emotional songwriting, matched with tranquil, atmospheric sounds, happens to be something the band does quite well.

Nightingale Floors continues through with themes of life, death, struggle and hope with tracks such as Figured It Out providing complete honesty, openness and no metaphors to hide grief behind. Schwartz' vocals are something to adore, with his soothing, soaring sound flooding your ears, and downplaying the highly emotional nature of the lyrics that hold such meaning to him.

The album lacks variation, and it becomes difficult to differentiate between one song and another. Although full of subtle hooks, thought-provoking lyrics and an intriguing sound that resembles the band's successful earlier releases, Rogue Wave have played it a little too safe with this album, and sadly, it isn't an album to remember the band by.