The moment Coasts fans have been waiting for has finally arrived! The release of the band’s self-titled debut album is today and damn, that was a long wait!
The UK’s Coasts – comprised of Chris Caines, Liam Willford, James Gamage, David Gouldbourn and Ben Street – have been on my radar ever since I fell madly in love with “Oceans” and “Stone” back in the spring of 2013. Their Paradise EP filled up the silence in my world and every track they’ve teased us with since followed suit. Needless to say – and I’m sure the band can agree – this album is the little engine that could and now that it has finally been unleashed into the world, there’s no doubt that this will be the catalyst that sets them on fire.
Kicking off the album is the track that started it all, “Oceans.” Maybe it’s just me but there’s nothing like a good, long wait that just makes those songs you’ve heard over and over for years sound incredibly better once it’s a part of a full-length. Reminding me of someone I loved for a very long time but never got to hold, this track represents the city that held everything I’ve ever wanted yet never stepped foot in.
Top 40 skeptics in the US would appreciate “Wolves” as the track engages the listener with a fresher pop-centric perspective, and quite possibly a great contender to be a part of a Taylor Swift “Out Of The Woods” mashup. So good it should also be on the radio, “You,” is the band’s current buzz track and for good reason. With lyrics like, “You make me feel like I’m holding on to something real,” it’s hard not to get caught up in its charm. An anthem for underdogs and the glory of finding love in the midst of the pain, “You” promises more than meets the eye.
“Modern Love,” a track that has followed me just about every place I shop, is by far the most refreshing track on the record, sharing a rather cynical-yet-realistic view on modern relationships and how disconnected we as a society really are no matter how connected we may think we are with social media, etc. Perhaps this track is the true romantics’ cry for help in a world of Tinder-tinged hookups and insignificance.
“Stay” – the first song the band ever wrote – has gone through so many versions but this final one is by far the most appealing. I can’t even begin to explain how many times I’ve wanted to sing this one to a certain someone all while still sensing that nagging feeling in the corners of my mind of how youth is fleeting and how I’ve missed out on so much. As Caines sings, “‘Cause we’ve got too much to let go,” it’s hard not to get caught up in the chaos of never doing all you set out to accomplish.
The album continues to haunt me with thoughts of the one that got away, especially during “A Rush Of Blood” as Caines sings in the chorus, “Like a rush of blood to the head you were crushing hearts til the end,” giving me flashbacks of how I waited so long for something I knew deep down I’d never find. “Your Soul” wipes clean the chill of the previous track with its summery vibe perfect for those anticipated road trips while one of my personal favorites, “Wash Away,” develops into an epic crescendo of dark, beachy soundscapes – which are by far my favorite aspects of what this band specializes in.
For an album dedicated to living in the moment, “Tonight” is the best track to close out with and perhaps a killer track to see played live. “Tonight you bring me to life” – kind of how I feel about this record.
As if you thought it couldn’t get any better, the deluxe edition offers 6 super-promising bonus tracks including personal favorites, “Wallow” and “Stone” which, if you’re a Coaster (can that be the fans’ new nickname or something?) you’re well-aware of how addicting they are.
Coasts delivered exactly what fans wanted with their self-titled debut and just as I predicted, I am dazzled with a fantastic start to 2016. Some things are just worth the wait. The best part is, this is just the beginning.
Coasts is available now here.
