From the first sung note of Hummingbird, Local Natives are frank in their presentation of a serious album, challenging listeners to heal along with them; cognizant that investment is proportional to remuneration.
Hummingbird proves that these guys are maturing into a sound that’s both singular and wrenching with severity.
Less ends up becoming more, as Hummingbird relinquishes its treasures piece by piece with a sort of unhurried charm.
At first, the eleven songs melt together into an indie rock haze, punctuated by riffs of guitar and howling harmonies, but with time, patience, and a second listen, the album reveals itself to be something much more complex.
This is a record of lateral growth, one that finds the band establishing their own place among their contemporaries.
If Gorilla Manor was immediately satisfying with its youthful scuffle, the denser, layered instrumentation and songwriter here provides a more substantial reward rooted in repeated listens, rather than a quick fling.
This album’s definitely a grower. Though it sometimes feels like Local Natives haven’t completely settled into their own skin while the band continues to search for a signature sound, this dissonant sonic evolution is a welcome one, and is an encompassing listen.
On the surface, it sounds like Local Natives have dialled down those sunshine bursts of joyous chants and guitars, and, for the most part, there are fewer handclaps and the harmonies are more subdued.
They may be shifting the weight of the world onto their collective shoulders, but it hasn't dampened their energy a bit.
The band’s sophomore album is a clear progression from Gorilla Manor, retaining the soaring harmonies from their debut, while experimenting with a more expansive and emotive sound.
For all its sadness, Hummingbird manages to craft a friscalating, sun-setting, post-adolescence in the rear-view mirror.
On ‘Hummingbird’ there’s a fresh depth and consideration, as well as some barefaced emotion, which has evidently rubbed off from time spent with the cult Ohio band of ‘High Violet’, ‘Boxer’ and ‘Alligator’ fame.
Moments so raw and lovely justify both their efforts and your efforts in surviving the occasionally oppressive nature of their efforts.
The follow-up sometimes feels like it’s coasting down a long but not-so-steep hill, with warm synth melodies and soaring choruses stretching out forever. Still, it’s a lovely ride.
Hummingbird sure has an ample amount of sentiment, balanced in between moments of grave frustration and passive reflection.
Despite its differences with Gorilla Manor, Hummingbird isn't a challenging or experimental album by any means, instead offering a host of moody, chasmal tracks characterized by trickling, chiming melodies and vocalist Kelcey Ayer's resilient falsetto.
Hummingbird is an album of hidden rewards, a record to pick and choose tracks from in order to purvey a single feeling or contribute to the perfect mixtape. What it’s not, though, is a cohesive, compelling whole.
It’s a good album, one that is pleasant enough to listen to and is quite competently written, performed and produced. Nevertheless, there’s something missing that keeps it out of that awe-inspiring class of great. While listening to Hummingbird, one has the nagging feeling that one has heard it all before.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
This is really good! Hell yea. Catchy hooks, passionate performances, good production, and great writing. It just about matched the quality for their debut for me. I think my favorite on here is for sure Mt Washington. So unbelievably catchy yet melancholy, I just love it. I also have definitely heard the song before, but never realized what or who it is. So hearing that kind of hit me with a wave of nostalgia. You & I is also a really great opener, I got super lost ... read more
#26 of re-reviews (redoing past album reviews from way back when)
i kinda forgot re-reviews existed for a while so now here i am again to destroy your feed with this review. i hope you enjoy :)
this album is one of the weird cases in my life. it appeared as a recommendation with apple music and in pitchfork with an 8.1 in bold, just begging for me to try it. this was when i added music from post-punk acts as well as everything fantano and pitchfork approved into my library and not many indie ... read more
Oh wow, 100th time listening to this but it hit hard this time
Essential Tracks: Heavy Feet, Black Balloons, Breakers
bro can rly hold a note. good part of the songs on are a very pretty and his voice is quite impressive but i still can’t help but feel like someno this stuff drags but a little. the instrumentals are hit or miss and if just always feel as impactful as i feel like it could but it still had a few songs that i genuinely enjoyed. don’t think i’ll really be coming back to this one much though
1 | You & I 4:21 | 87 |
2 | Heavy Feet 4:06 | 87 |
3 | Ceilings 2:56 | 83 |
4 | Black Spot 4:41 | 74 |
5 | Breakers 4:09 | 82 |
6 | Three Months 4:30 | 66 |
7 | Black Balloons 3:07 | 72 |
8 | Wooly Mammoth 3:26 | 73 |
9 | Mt. Washington 3:18 | 90 |
10 | Colombia 4:50 | 73 |
11 | Bowery 4:36 | 75 |
#7 | / | Entertainment Weekly |
#12 | / | Drowned in Sound |
#15 | / | Consequence of Sound |
#15 | / | Slant |
#23 | / | Listen Before You Buy |
#26 | / | Under the Radar |
#30 | / | Paste |
#40 | / | Amazon |
#43 | / | Urban Outfitters |