Final Summer

Final Summer is another strong album from a remarkably consistent band, but it's the wisdom, maturity, and joy Cloud Nothings bring to it makes it an especially satisfying listen.

From the moment it starts to its very last note, Final Summer comes rich with gargantuan hooks that make you feel alive.

Final Summer is more than just a lovely little dose of the same ol' well-aged, humble rock ‘n’ roll; it’s all the lessons learned along the way, contextualized as a genuinely charming return.

Perhaps the most significant reflection of Baldi’s essence as a songwriter is that Final Summer is a record that continues to impress upon you with every listen. The pieces change context, and your favourites shift as exquisite subtleties are discovered.

The band continues their no-miss reputation with a set of huge-sounding tracks that significantly represent the current era of the band.

With spruced-up production highlighting new subtleties in their sound, yet never abandoning their melodic fundamentals, the Cleveland indie rockers’ latest radiates a renewed sense of purpose.

This is the sound of a band and a songwriter who have grown confident in their own skin, who are skilled in their craft and not afraid to show it off.

Cleveland’s most consistent rock group returns with—surprise, surprise—another solid album.

Even if Final Summer probably won't cause a big enough stir to get an anniversary reissue a decade from now, like 2012's Attack on Memory recently did, it's yet another solid rock record from a reliable group who are very good at this sort of thing.

Baldi has clearly carved out his own corner of plainspoken wisdom; on Final Summer, unfortunately, the songs don’t quite do his insights justice.

There’s the occasional roar, yet the muted way in which they’re almost hidden makes for a frustrating mismatch.