After a three-year hiatus, Silver-Lake-based Indie rock band Local Natives released their third album, "Sunlit Youth," on Sept. 9. While trying out new techniques—such as synth and dub textures, electro-rock, and slightly political lyrics—the quintet seems to expose a longing to revert back to their more youthful days.
Their experimentation of new sounds and lyrical layers parallels a yearning for the past, perhaps to a time when their sound was more consistent in their 2013 album "Hummingbird." Despite a more fluid past, Local Natives has marked a new chapter for themselves.
While "Sunlit Youth" isn't a favorite among critics or fans, it still feels like the band is onto something—whether it's the implementation of political and feminist undertones, or trying a more diverse range of sounds without going full throttle on developments. Their experimentation almost reflects a reluctance to progress forward with today's musical current—they're holding onto the final strings of their youth, or the immediate attraction of the first two albums.
Although this album sounds hesitant to put both feet through the musical progress time machine, it's still refreshing to hear the smooth, crooning soft-rock vocals of frontman Taylor Rice sing unexpectedly politically charged lyrics like "I have waited so long, Mrs. President," in "Fountain Of Youth" and "Are you afraid to call yourself a feminist?" in "Masters." While not totally advancing musically, the lyrics evidently reflect the band's progressive political stance in light of the upcoming presidential election and police brutality.
Two of "Sunlit Youth"'s standout tracks are "Villainy" and "Coins." "Villainy" evokes a sense of simplicity and familiar sounding harmonies more characteristic of Local Native's past two albums. "Coins" is a successfully experimental track with detached, discordant guitar, musings of dwindling youth, yet still, like "Villainy", reminiscent of the band's past.
While Local Natives won't be making a stop in Indianapolis for their world tour, you can catch them in Chicago (Sept. 26), Milwaukee (Sept. 27), or St. Louis (Oct. 5). Tune in to 91.5 WGRE on your smartphone, computer, or radio to hear songs from "Sunlit Youth."