LA born and bred Local Natives’ 2010 debut album, Gorilla Manor, was defined by its vocal layering, choral “oh’s” and “ah’s”, and blisfully chaotic melodicism that landed them a spot in the “bands to watch”. Some people attributed the success of Gorilla Manor to a well-executed conglomeration of indie influences like Broken Social Scene, The National, or Grizzly Bear. As a result, the release of their sophomore album, Hummingbird, has been highly anticipated.
Hummingbird has been said to be Local Natives’ “do or die” opportunity to either mature their sound and solidify their spot in the indie world or retire to the proverbial land of misfit indie bands. Hummingbird is the realization of Local Natives’ maturation and then some. In the 3 years since the release of their rookie album, the Local Natives have faced homelessness, heartbreak and death. The recent events in the lives of the band members can be distinctly heard in the aching lulls that illustrate Hummingbird’s definitively subtle sound. This time around, the music is as much about what is not heard as what is.
Local Natives have departed from their free-spirited, and cheerfully apathetic “Sun Hands” or “Who Knows? Who Cares?” on this album, which have been replaced by soulful songs like “Colombia”; which addresses the recent death of a band member’s mother. The inescapable intimacy of lyrics like, “Patricia, every night I ask myself, am I loving enough?” in Colombia seamlessly demonstrate Local Natives’ reward for their bold risk taking on their second full-length album.
Ultimately, Hummingbird is a must have album that deserves a listen from start to finish. And then some.
Recommended Tracks: 1,3,5,10