“I don’t know where you begin but it’s where I wanna end”
Is there anything better than a beloved band returning after years away and delivering a no-skip album? I don’t think so—and apparently, Beach Weather agrees.
Formed in 2015 and releasing two (excellent) EPs before going on hiatus in 2017, Beach Weather—Nick Santino, Reeve Powers, and Sean Silverman—re-emerged in late 2021 and now they’re officially back with their debut full-length, Pineapple Sunrise.
Before we get any further, I have to confess that I’ve been a Nick Santino stan (a Stantino, if you will) since I started listening to his previous band, A Rocket to the Moon, in 2009. So if you’re looking for an overly critical, maybe negative review, you won’t find it here. But even if I wasn’t a Stantino™, I still wouldn’t have a bad word to say because this album is exactly what I needed to brighten up a gloomy winter.
Like their earlier EPs, each song on Pineapple Sunrise has its own distinctive sound while still managing to feel like Beach Weather. The title track is bouncy and beachy, bringing to mind palm trees and boardwalks. “High and Driving” has an incredible, groovy bassline while “Trouble With This Bed” offers a smooth R&B flavor. “Hard Feelings” brings a classic pop song vibe—I can already imagine clapping along to the chorus and busting out all my best (read: worst) dance moves whenever I get a chance to hear this live.
As the title suggests, Pineapple Sunrise is a mostly sunny album—but don’t be fooled by the infectious choruses or snappy percussion into thinking it’s all surface level. No, Pineapple Sunrise is full of songs that will get you bopping while also making you feel seen.
Example: The self-deprecating first single, “Unlovable”, featuring the addictive chorus of “How’d I get so damn unlovable.” Tell me honestly who among us hasn’t felt exactly like that at some point? Similarly, “Silent Type” suggests “I wish I could just disappear,” once more tapping into those feelings of anxiety and self-consciousness that sometimes get in our way and stop us from going after what makes us happy. Meanwhile, “Homebody” could have been an anthem for all those days we spent trapped in our own houses during the pandemic…while also being an ode to how some people genuinely prefer being at home.
There are two short songs that break up the album: the 46-second long “Desert Oasis” in the first half, and “Miss You”, clocking in at just over a minute, towards the end of the second half. “Desert Oasis” is a plea for a change in pace after being stuck inside, leading perfectly into “Homebody”, while “Miss You” is a gentle, almost fifties-style love song about spending the afternoon with your loved one. It transitions beautifully into “Wildfire”, which is dedicated to being “dazed and consumed” by the person you love in a way you never expected (and maybe didn’t think you deserved).
Last summer, you may have seen “Sex, Drugs, Etc.” pop up everywhere from TikTok to the radio to Jimmy Kimmel Live! Originally released as part of 2016’s Chit Chat EP, the song—which talks about feeling like you don’t belong—has been blowing up and slowly making Beach Weather a household name. It was one of my favorites when it was first released and now, hearing it close off Beach Weather’s debut album feels like a full circle moment—for both longtime fans and the band members.
There’s an overall vulnerability to Pineapple Sunrise illustrated by recurring themes of anxiety, self-consciousness, and navigating relationships. The guys may look like they’ve got it together (have you seen their snazzy suits when they perform live? Stunning) but at the end of the day, they’re just as human as the rest of us—full of faults and flaws and big, sometimes overwhelming, often complicated feelings. But by being open about it in these songs, they remind us that we’re not alone.
Beach Weather has been referring to 2023 as the “Year of the Pineapple” and rightfully so: With Pineapple Sunrise, they’ve provided us with a soundtrack for every season. Whether you’re chasing away the winter blues, spring cleaning, soaking up the summer sun, or getting cozy for fall, Beach Weather has a song for that.
Stream it, Buy it, Skip it?: Buy it! Float (on your lowkey vibe) to wherever you get your music and make sure to give Beach Weather the attention they deserve.
