I remember how I loved eating jelly beans as a child. They were usually sweet, fun and colorful, and I couldn’t wait for the next flavor to come. That was the feeling I had when I Well togetherthe latest album from Lake Street Dive. Each song is unique and fun, and I couldn’t wait for the next sweet treat to play.
The band consists of lead singer Rachael Price, bassist (and Iowa native) Bridget Kearney, drummer Mike Calabrese, guitarist James Cornelison, and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Akie Bermiss.
In the 20 years that the band has existed, they have perfected a feel-good sound, toured the world and Billboard Charts. The group’s success is likely due at least in part to the fact that they met at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in the early 2000s, where they were able to hone their craft together from a young age.
The 11-track record starts off strong with the title track “Good Together,” which puts good vibes front and center with its Bruce Hornsby-esque lead synth hook, then quickly turns into a funky, sassy pop anthem. Price and Bermiss’ vocals complement each other with exquisite skill, and I found myself thinking of this song over and over again as the album progressed. When the horns kicked in after each chorus, I just couldn’t help but start bopping along.
Lake Street Dive explored new sonic avenues on the album and their efforts really paid off. The instrumentation is one aspect that really caught my attention. It’s not every day that you hear soulful vocals accompanied by 8-bit synths and a full-blown horn section simultaneously. The album also took me sonically through the ’70s, ’80s and present day – sometimes all in a single track. The song “Dance with a Stranger” sounds vocally like a more soulful Dua Lipa, incorporating musical elements of Carole King’s soft rock while hanging out with the Pet Shop Boys in their ’80s synth heyday. Pretty wild stuff.
The group does not deviate to much of the sound that has gotten them this far. Songs like “Help is on the Way” and “Better Not Tell You” are classic jams. And the band isn’t afraid to slow the tempo down significantly, as they did on the ballad “Twenty-Five,” in which Price reminisces about an ex-lover. With just a piano as a background, it’s a beautifully emotional song that anyone who has ever been in love will understand. The song walks the thin emotional line between being depressing and being hopeful. If you’re looking for emotional feels, I found them in this mid-album highlight.
If you are looking for a feel-good time, you have come to the right place. Well together. It ticks all the boxes. Just try not to hurt your head by bopping too hard. A+ for head bopping on this album.
Must-listen: “Good Together”, “Far Gone” and “Twenty-Five”
