“See These Bones“
from the album Lucky
2008
iTunes
Back in 1996, New York indie-pop trio Nada Surf were labelmates and tourmates with Knoxville rock champs Superdrag, each touring behind their respective major-label debuts and first — and ultimately, only — hit singles. If you made a wager as to which of these acts would still be around 10 years later, who wouldn’t have bet against the guys who sang “Popular”?
Flash-forward to this fall, and while a reunited Superdrag is taking a just-for-kicks trip down memory lane, Nada Surf is still very much in the moment, having gained a large, indie-minded fanbase with later releases on Barsuk Records (Death Cab for Cutie, Menomena). The fact that the group was able to overcome the novelty-hit hurdle is a testament to frontman Matthew Caws’ penchant for fragile melodies and the band’s suitably delicate arrangements, as heard on “See These Bones,“ a track from pending album Lucky, due out in February.