Like the rest of Bobb Bruno and Bethany Cosentino’s musical oeuvre, California Nights is a tribute to the west coast. The quintessential coasties write catchy, mellow, pleasant poetry about California, which they dub as the “best coast” and “the only place” in their work. There’s nothing subtle about it, and that’s OK. California Nights is the newest addition to this collection of love songs.
There’s nothing particularly unique about Best Coast’s new album. The songs would fit seamlessly on the duo’s other albums, Crazy For You (2010) and The Only Place (2012). Consistency is a strong area for Best Coast. Cosentino and Bruno don’t necessarily take risks to experiment with something new in their music, but they don’t need changing. All three albums feature either upbeat or heartbreaking tracks, all with their signature charming, mellow musical style.
“Heaven Sent” is one of the stronger numbers on California Nights. It has that joyful vibe that especially resembles the tracks on Crazy For You, like “Each and Every Day” and “The End.” “Heaven Sent” has a Beach Boys, beach-party feel that makes you want to take a jog by the ocean and talk to attractive lifeguards.
“You are the one that I adore, that I adore,” Cosentino sings repeatedly. It’s this type of romantic, naïve, summer-love optimism that isn’t too prevalent in the rest of the album.
Despite the surfer style, the duo never strays from songs about the less-than-sweeter things in life. Previous albums included “Our Deal” and “Do You Love Me Like You Used To,” both tragic. The most recent album includes “In My Eyes” and “Sleep Won’t Ever Come,” among others.
On California Nights, “In My Eyes” tackles making a mistake and paying for it.
“I face the fact that you’re not ever coming back,” Cosentino sings. “What hurts the most is that you’re gone, and it hasn’t even been that long.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBD8GJaY79s
They’re simple lyrics, but they still feel powerful with their simplicity and Cosentino’s emotional delivery. They’re not trying too hard to say something deep about melancholy; they just tell it like it is.
That’s one of Best Coast’s strong suits; the duo is frank in their lyrics about everything from emotions to obsession with California.
The title track, “California Nights,” is slower, more disorganized and trippy. Whereas “Heaven Sent” evokes beach parties and sun, “California Nights” speaks of a different side of California — quiet nights getting high at an empty beach at sunset. It’s more calm and less literal than the rest of the album.
What’s valuable to note about California Nights is, other than “Heaven Sent,” no song seems stronger or weaker than another. Just like Best Coast’s style, subject matter and sound is consistent across its albums; its songs are consistent on California Nights. As a duo that idolizes the state, it makes sense that they would stay with their roots and maintain that west coast style, rather than try something new or experimental.
