Local Natives – Time Will Wait For No One

It’s probably the sun, the beach, and The Beach Boys, but even indie music in Los Angeles has a special glow. You might have to deal with break-ups and mudslides, but how bad can life be when you’re in Lalaland? Silver Lake’s Local Natives have been channeling that Laurel Canyon-esque relax for years now in their alt-rock, and once again do it very well, with Time Will Wait For No One.

After the sweet, titular, one-minute plus opener, Time largely brings that strong indie-glow, such as immediately with the following “Just Before the Morning” and then the subsequent disco-glow of “Empty Mansions”. There is a certain ‘after the party/vacation is over’ feel to the album on songs like that or “Featherweight”, and “Ava” is wistful for the lovely days on the shore. However, it isn’t all loss, such as the big, relaxed celebration of the penultimate “NYE”.

The sun might not seem like your friend in this hot global warming summer, and has always been a bit suspect in moody alt-eyes, but Local Natives know how to bask in its glow without losing their inside soul.