Changed for the better
Change can be severe, but in Always Tomorrow, Best Coast, the duo from LA, displays all the significant consequences of change. Singer Bethany Cosentino celebrates her sobriety in the album, which makes it incredibly personal. In November 2019, Cosentino shared her success with her Twitter followers. She is happy, she is positive and this reflects in the band’s newest album.
The album starts with “Different Light,” a song about finding new hope and a new perspective on life. It’s a feel-good song that perfectly introduces the album and a new era for the band. With “Everything Has Changed,” Cosentino celebrates her sobriety and her dog. It begins with the realization that alcohol was the reason for depression and self- hatred, but now that things have changed, life is turning around for her. It feels great to be happy for her. Sobriety isn’t easy to obtain. The chorus, “Everything has changed/ I like it this way/ Everything has changed/ I’d like for it to stay,” summarizes almost the entire following album. The song is also featured at the end of the album but as a radio edit. Both versions contain a particular Weezer-like sound.
It’s up to the audience to decide which version they like better, the sound of the radio edit is a little stronger and more apparent. The guitar is more involved. “For the First Time” sounds a bit like it was written in the late ‘70s, it’s almost like hints of ABBA found themselves on the track. The song is so full of hope and happiness it’s contagious.
The album becomes slightly more substantial with the following track “Graceless Kids,” the guitar sounds are more electric and harder. Cosentino’s voice does the same; she sounds darker, which transparent, especially during the chorus “I’m the Queen of the Graceless Kids” and when she starts to talk to the audience mid-song directly.
“Wreckage” provides the audience with another message, nothing and no one has to be perfect. It sounds like Cosentino broke free of her everything that dragged her down and can now fully live her best life. Even though people make mistakes, that doesn’t mean they’re a failure or a wreck. The attitude of trying your best is found again in the lyrics to “Rollercoaster.” The song almost sounds psychedelic as she repeats the word rollercoaster in a hypnotic voice.
“Master of My Own Mind” tackles the topic of dealing with anxiety. “I gotta Focus, gotta rewind/ I’ve gotta stay the master of my own mind” is an excellent mantra for people who are dealing with anxiety and shows the audience again, how insightful the album is. The punk elements in the sounds are perfectly highlighting the lyrics and they almost go hand in hand.
The album gets softer with “True,” almost a sweet rock ballad. Now Cosentino can show the full range of her voice. The vocals are the significant essential part of this piece, making the beat fade into the background. “Seeing Red” is quite the opposite of “True,” the song is angrier, with pop-punk lyrics and ‘80s keyboard sounds here and there. The song nearly sounds like a revival of old school pop-punk and marks another highlight on the album. “Make it Last” loses its fire after such intense previous sounds. “Used to Be” finishes the album with fantastic vocals and deep lyrics. The sounds fill out the speaker and offer something new with every time people listen to it. So, it is worth repeating and to listen to the song actively.
Best Coast created a strong and personal new album with unusual sounds and even better lyrics. The band will please old fans (by staying true to themselves) and also gain new fans (by adding new elements at the same time) something that only a few bands can accomplish.
Leave a Comment