Barsuk, 2005
The Weight is a Gift is Nada Surf's fourth full length in nearly ten years, and while they maintain essentially the same basic sound as in their 2003 release, Let Go, they have provided a reasonably advanced take on such. The Weight is a Gift is, arguably, their most mature release since the band's inception.
From the cello backing Nada Surf in the smoothly melodic "Your Legs Grow" to the horns featured in "All is a Game" (which, in a throwback style, feels heavily like earlier Nada Surf in its vocal stylings and lightly distorted guitars,) the band demonstrates their musical know-how and interest in growing their diversity. The Weight is a Gift is Nada Surf's second release on Seattle-based Barsuk Records, and as the credits show, there is a fair amount of collaboration across Barsuk's roster. Most notably, The Weight is a Gift was produced by esteemed producer and Death Cab for Cutie guitarist, Chris Walla, alongside two-time producer Louie Lino, a friend of the band. Additionally, John Roderick, of The Long Winters, and Sean Nelson, original member of The Long Winters and the previous frontman for Harvey Danger. Besides these inter-label collaborations, Nada Surf pulled in Phil Wandscher, of alternative country outfit Whiskeytown, who contributed lead guitar on "Comes a Time," and Kenneth Earl Jankowski Jr., of The Golden Republic, who played horns on "All is a Game."
The Weight is a Gift is, by and large, a fast-paced, driving collection of songs ("Comes a Time" may be the sole exception); it is evident that the band has not left behind their roots in power-pop, but simultaneously have realized their inevitably more mature sound -- after all, they were dumped from Elektra Records after refusing to "find" a single for their second full-length, The Proximity Effect, months after its completion by the band, and as such, were reasonably upset. Understandably, it was four years from this struggle in 1998 before the release of their Barsuk debut, Let Go. Either major label troubles are conducive to maturation, it would seem, or four years is, or both -- and it's likely that the answer is both.
As is expected from a band with two stellar releases under their belt, The Weight is a Gift is rife with positive attributes -- songwriting, production, vocal quality, lyrics, you name it, it's there, and it's undeniably positive. Chris Walla's production style fits perfectly with the band's musical style; Walla's unique flares shine through, but, all told, the album sounds (thankfully) unmistakably like a Nada Surf album. Per their usual efforts, The Weight is a Gift's lyrics are well written; though not necessarily "poetic" at all times, they are personal and inspiring. Nada Surf has again succeeded on many levels, and judging from the pace of things, it's likely that any such progress will continue.