Album Mini-review: Coastgaard — Devil on the Balcony
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The following was originally published by the San Diego Reader.)
Though Coastgaard build their music on a foundation of surf rock, their approach is quite some distance from that of surf revivalists like Los Straitjackets. There’s an upbeat, playful aesthetic at work on the group’s second album, Devil on the Balcony, one that places them closer to groups like Sloan or Fountains of Wayne. A unified sonic approach is the glue that holds together the dozen tunes on Devil on the Balcony: reverbed guitars, fuzz bass lines, straight-ahead drums and no-nonsense washes of keyboard all serve to support Matt Miller‘s lead vocals.
A sense of history pervades the album: the sweet melody of “Dear Nessie” recalls Elvis Costello‘s early 1980s work. “A Well Adjusted Man” and “Landmines” are the disc’s most overtly surf-rock flavored tune – and they’re also among the best here – but Coastgaard’s compositional skills extend well beyond the genre. One has to wait until nearly halfway through Devil on the Balcony for a guitar solo (“Fur”), and that’s followed by some very evocative Mellotron, then some musical dialogue between wah-wah guitar and piano; this is a disc that rewards the listener who allows the full extent of the album’s charms to reveal itself.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.