CD of The Week

Lo-fi indie rockers Rogue Wave are back this summer with their fifth LP Nightingale Floors. The band seemed to really hit their stride in 2007 with Asleep at Heaven’s Gate, which earned them Shins-esque renown and a permanent spot in the indie rock world. Their latest effort solidifies this status.

A common theme of big, circular sounding melodies underlies Nightingale Floors. The album opens with “No Magnatone,” an expansive, ethereal track pleasantly grounded by a steady drum beat. “Siren’s Song” and “Everyone Wants to Be You” have a a similar vibe as well, but “The Closer I Get” takes this new vastness to a spectacular extreme. Layered over its ambient instrumentals is a simple, almost folk guitar line and stripped down, yet melodic vocals. The overall effect is gorgeous—almost akin to Simon and Garfunkle, but for the modern age.

It’s not all huge melodies on Nightingale Floors, though. There are more pop-centered tracks on the album, too, like the single “College” and “Figured It Out.” S(a)tan” seems to contain references to the devil and geometry if only in name, and “Used to It” features some intriguingly grunge guitars.

In essence, this album has playful elements that when coupled with the beautiful meanderings of the other tracks, shows that Rogue Wave is pushing to evolve a quality sound, which will only grow more exciting to watch in the future.