The Umbrellas: Fairweather Friend [Album Review]

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The Umbrellas
Fairweather Friend
Slumberland Records [2024]

Album Overview: The Umbrellas’ sophomore album, Fairweather Friend, follows their self-titled debut in 2021. This album sounds bigger in every way with enhanced songwriting, top-notch production, and even more confident vocals from Matt Ferrara and Morgan Stanley, which once again play off each other perfectly with alternating male/female leads. The band retains all the elements that signify The Umbrellas are from the San Francisco Bay Area while creating a sound that moves beyond the region and will resonate with audiences worldwide. Fairweather Friend captures the essence of The Umbrellas’ musical journey, blending their indiepop roots with a newfound sense of maturity and ambition, promising to captivate listeners with its infectious melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

Musical Style: The musical style of Fairweather Friend can be described as indiepop with an energetic sonic attack. The album features catchy, upbeat melodies, impactful percussion, and a blend of energetic live show dynamics with studio craft and finesse. The female/male lead vocals and combined harmonies keep their musical approach fresh and vibrant around every corner.

Evolution of Sound: The Umbrellas’ progression on Fairweather Friend is reminiscent of the growth seen in similar bands’ second albums. While the concept remains consistent, the execution is bigger, bolder, and more satisfying. The band captures their thrilling live dynamic on tape, maintaining physicality and an upbeat mood while displaying greater control in the studio.

Artists with Similar Fire: The Umbrellas draw influences from indiepop acts like The Pastels, Comet Gain, and The Aislers Set. Their growth on the second album is likened to the progression seen in second albums from bands like Allo Darlin’ and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. This record also reminds me of Velocity Girl, which was known for their melodic and jangly guitar-driven sound, catchy hooks, dreamy vocals, and a mix of fuzzy and clean guitar tones.

Pivotal Tracks: “Three Cheers!” is the first track you will hear, with its addictive, upbeat melody and impactful percussion. “Goodbye” caught my ear immediately as Stanley sings her heart out on the chorus. “Say What You Mean” is one of the most confident tracks on the record with a more rock chiming conclusion and precise harmonies. Near the end of the record, you will hear “Blue,” an acoustic number that shows a different side of the band with its starting-over theme.

Lyrical Strength: The album showcases plenty of lyrical depth with tracks like “Three Cheers!”, which explores a pseudo-political theme of power struggles, “Goodbye” which captures the very moment a person moves on from a relationship and “Gone,” which serves as a manifesto of control and release. The lyrics here are observational, playful, and reflect a variety of themes, including relationship analogies and reflections on the dynamics of job situations and friend groups.

THE UMBRELLAS REVIEW HISTORY
The Umbrellas (2021)

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Thomas Wilde
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