High/Low (album)
| High/Low | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_cover_art.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Recorded | December 1–20, 1995 | |||
| Studio | Electric Lady, New York City | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, power pop | |||
| Length | 36:31 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Ric Ocasek | |||
| Nada Surf chronology | ||||
| ||||
High/Low is the debut studio album by the American band Nada Surf, released in 1996.[1][2] It contains the hit single "Popular".[3] High/Low was produced by Ric Ocasek.[4] Nada Surf supported it by touring with Superdrag and the Gravel Pit.[5]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Robert Christgau |  [7] |
| Pitchfork Media | 7.4/10[8] |
The Baltimore Sun noted that "there's an almost elegant austerity to the album's sound, but what ultimately brings the songs into focus is the band's ultra-efficient playing, which is so sparing you'd think the recording studio charged them by the note."[9] The Ottawa Citizen concluded that Nada Surf "may have been moulded by a superior studio presence, but the root of their sound, guitar-driven and heavy on the backbeat, speaks of an energy that was harnessed and focused, not manufactured."[10]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks written by Matthew Caws and Daniel Lorca, except where noted.
- "Deeper Well" – 3:55 - written by Caws, Lorca and Robert Randall
- "The Plan" – 4:31
- "Popular" – 3:48 - written by Caws, Lorca and Gloria Winters
- "Sleep" – 3:47
- "Stalemate" – 3:38
- "Treehouse" – 2:43
- "Icebox" – 3:17
- "Psychic Caramel" – 4:00
- "Hollywood" – 2:20
- "Zen Brain" – 4:28
Personnel[edit]
Nada Surf
Production
- Bruce Calder – engineer, mixer
- George Marino – mastering
- Ric Ocasek – producer
- Andy Salas – assistant engineer
Charts[edit]
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak
position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Billboard 200[11] | 63 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Popular" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[12] | 11 |
References[edit]
- ^ Blush, Steve (2016). New York Rock: From the Rise of the Velvet Underground to the Fall of CBGB. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 368.
- ^ Catlin, Roger (15 Nov 1996). "Popularity Has Its Price for Nada Surf at Toad's". Hartford Courant. p. A4.
- ^ Sherr, Sara (19 July 1996). "Superdrag/Nada Surf". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 15.
- ^ Maples, Tina (16 Aug 1996). "The rise of power-pop". Cue. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 4.
- ^ Dunn, Michael (25 July 1996). "'Popular' trio rides the wave". Florida/Metro. The Tampa Tribune. p. 3.
- ^ "High/Low Review by Ned Raggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Nada Surf". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Schreiber, Ryan. "Nada Surf High/Low". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Considine, J. D. (25 July 1996). "Nada Surf High/Low". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 8.
- ^ Blanchfield, Mike (24 Aug 1996). "Nada Surf has bloodlines, sound to stay at high tide". The Ottawa Citizen. p. E3.
- ^ "The Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 34. Aug 24, 1996. p. 128.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 173.
