This Life, Vol. 1

Chronique

A year after the release of their full-length debut, U.K. quintet Coasts returned with more of the same. On This Life, Vol. 1, the band delivered another set of streamlined and competent millennial indie pop/rock. However, whereas their first offering had a handful of highlights inspired by a range of contemporaries like Bastille and Two Door Cinema Club, This Life contains even less variety. Lost are the pounding percussion and urgency that at least kept Coasts afloat. Instead, Coasts have settled into a zone where most songs sound like variations on their best song, "Modern Love," filtered through production flourishes one might hear on a Zedd anthem. On "Paradise," frontman Chris Caines breathlessly declares "We're of a generation lost in love," so earnest to speak for listeners but ultimately coming off as naïve. Much like their idea of love, This Life is just as flimsy and thin. Tracks like "Make It Out Alive" and "Chase the Night" stand out only because they sound different, hitting a similar sweet spot found on the more intense Bastille songs -- but without that group's conviction, Coasts simply sound like they're aping a better band. Overall, This Life is generally peppy and enjoyably buoyant pop/rock, but it's ultimately forgettable.

© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo