California Dreaming
GospelbeacH started as a few friends playing cover songs together. Coming from groups such as Beachwood Sparks, Further, Watson Twins and Ryan Adams’s band the Cardinals—to name only a handful—Brent Rademaker, Tom Sanford, Neal Casal, Jason Soda and Kip Boardman are no strangers to the music scene. Combining their talents together is what led them to release their debut album, Pacific Surf Line—a musical representation of what an endless summer might sound like.
There’s a distinctly California, day-at-the-beach feel to the entire album, with opener “California Steamer” setting the tone. “California Steamer” has an upbeat tempo, making it nearly impossible not to move to. “Sunshine Skyway” follows suit with its mellow rock and roll vibe and care-free, road-tripping lyrics. “When I go on the road / And I know where to go just to get away / Down the sunshine skyway. / I stumbled down further than I meant to go. / I was blown by a southern wind.” This track represents the idea of living a spontaneous life, going in whatever direction one feels like at the time.
Despite lacking the beach-centric titles of the preceding tracks, the other songs on the album still have a mellow feel, reminiscent of other feel-good songs like Weezer’s “Island in the Sun.” Track seven, “Out of My Mind (On Cope and Reed),” uses lyrics about the weather to signify how life eventually gets better after hard times. “The wind that blows you backwards, / The wind that brought you near. / Though your eyes are clouded skies / The wind will see them clear. / Put your best foot forward. / Step into the sun.” Bad things may happen, but ultimately, they will turn around, and the sun will come out.
Lyrically, “Alone” may not be about the sun or the beach, but its 60’s-style guitars maintain that California summer feel. Even with lyrics like “Now that you’ve found yourself alone / Wouldn’t you like to know / Where did that feeling go?,” an the drums maintain an optimistic beat throughout the chorus. “Come Down” and “Damsel in Distress” act similarly; both seeming to be about difficult relationships, but the tempos of the songs give it a more positive spin.
Even with an overall west coast feel, the songs on Pacific Surf Line each possess their own lives and sounds. Folk and rock mesh together in “Mick Jones,” whereas “Southern Girl” has a more blue-rock feel. “Your Freedom” has a jazzy vibe to it, introducing flutes that mesh well with the guitars and provide another tone for this eclectic collection of music.
The combined talent of the members of GospelbeacH is what makes their debut album a success. Those deciding whether or not to listen to Pacific Surf Line should ask themselves if 40 minutes of relaxing, feel-good music is their thing, and even if it’s not, they should probably give it a listen anyway.
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