Coast Is Never Clear

Amazon.com On The Coast Is Never Clear, the difficult third-album syndrome only affected San Franciscan pop dreamers Beulah in the studio, where the band came to blows over, say, the importance of a diminished seventh on a trumpet solo. From such a roughneck recording environment, however, comes perfection on their third album, where expansive, multi-instrumental, orchestral pop is underpinned by the sweetest tunes. This album could be precious--and in lesser hands it surely would be--but at the core of Beulah's ambitious vision a pure pop heart beats. Special mention must be made of "Silver Lining," a paean to songwriter Miles Kurosky's first love, punk rock. Introduced by a fanfare of horns, the track races along propelled by a fiery guitar riff and the beaten-up joy of being scarred by punk. A bittersweet, sumptuous, and utterly compulsive collection, all told. --Ben Clancy