The indie rock genre has a unique charm. When up against other rock genres, it stands out for its use of understated melodies and softer vocal aesthetics. The Dark Fruits seem to have a good grasp on this direction, but elevate things in their latest album “Warm Weather Starter Pack.” From the top, the first song on the album takes a familiar musical concept and gives it a nice twist to draw the listener in.
“California Beach” is the track that kicks the album off. The track begins with a smooth and sunny vocal “woohoo-hoo” before laying on a groovy, low and distorted guitar riff with some slow, hypnotic drums to back it up. The deep bounciness the beat creates is easy to move to. When the track kicks into high gear around the 2 minute mark, the increased tempo doubles down on the groovy aesthetic while using the harder sound to deliver some lyrical power. Lines such as “I’ll put a juicy offer on that house if I can. You heard if it was built on long-ago stolen land” hit hard when backed by the kicked-up instrumentals. With a catchy chorus and a nice twist on the typical surfer musical aesthetic, “California Beach” makes a strong first impression for the album.
“Asymptomatic” is a track whose charm makes it stand out. It hits the ground running with an upbeat acoustic guitar riff, which smoothly transitions into the groovy bassline and drums that make the track pop. The soft vocals of Jeff Wolosewich bring the perfect indie vibe to the music, with Tara Martin providing excellent backups that only add to the charm. The bassline dances with the drums to take control of the sound, with airy acoustic and electric guitars giving the track a flow with an edge. It makes it all the more smile-inducing when the guitar breaks off into its wailing solo that brings the track sky-high. The melody is elevating and makes this track one you don’t want to miss.
“No Bars” wastes no time in jumping into the track, with a heavy vocal intro backed up by low, bouncy bass and percussion. When the track kicks into high gear around the 1:10 mark, it goes from a mellow groove to hard rock that will make you want to headbang. The lyrics reflect the increased tension with lines such as “it’s like I slip and break my leg, sprained my arm with no hope to get wilderness first aid.” The flow of “No Bars” and how it transitions the mood of the song makes it stand out and also makes it hard to not hit the repeat button after the first listen.
The ending track, “Serious Celebration” is also a great one. The drums take command and give the track a pulse from the top, while a smooth bass groove and meandering guitars give the track a flow that’s easy to melt into, especially with how the vocals dance with the instrumentals. The powerful drum beats give the track a sense of power that you can feel as they command the flow of the song effortlessly. The soft vocal aesthetic meshes well with the vibe of the track to make the indie rock sound incredibly immersive. When combined with a triumphant outro, “Serious Celebration” ends the album with a punch that’s not felt anywhere else on the album.
“Warm Weather Starter Pack” is a powerful sophomore album. Each track has a groove you can melt into along with some catchy choruses that will stick in your head after just one listen. The smooth and soft vocals of Jeff Wolosewich only adds to their charm, with tracks such as “No Bars” and “Downtime” showing off his vocal power. If you’re an indie rock fan looking for something new and exciting, or someone looking to get into indie rock and want a fresh point to jump in, look no further than “Warm Weather Starter Pack.”
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