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Following up on their acclaimed debut Crazy For You, Californian pop-duo Best Coast have matured and ditched the lo-fi sound.
Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno have added to their repertoire, building on the Cali-pop sound with more introspective and thoughtful songs.
Consentino still handles all the lyrics and vocals, this time not hiding behind production fuzz and catchy meldodies though, especially on No One Like You, which showcases a singer growing in confidence.
The new, cleaner sounding Best Coast is down in part to the help of Jon Brion. Kanye’s producer was drafted in to create a moire radio-friendly sound without losing any of the credibility they gained from their debut.
Most of The Only Place is made up of mid-tempo numbers, highlighting Consentino’s self-doubt and uncertainty as she moves away from the stoner image she painted on Crazy For You.
On Do You Love Me Like You Used To, her metamorphosis into a more mature artist is most apparent, shedding the sufer-girl image for indie star.
What is clear is that even by exploring more personal themes Best Coast never lose their melody driven pop sound. So while she sings about her insecurities, we are still left with a track that will stay stuck in your head.
There are more upbeat numbers, particularly The Only Place and Let’s Go Home, which are reminiscent of Crazy For You, but the catchy hooks come across slightly used and nothing we haven’t heard before.
The Only Place is packed with sweet melodies and the Cali-pop that will have you nodding your head throughout the summer.
Cosentino is a singer and writer in transition and The Only Place is an assured follow-up but not the final destination for this band.