Ra Ra Riot's sophomore release The Orchard is a valiant effort for what a sophomore album should be. Following in the footsteps of their vivacious hit-laden debut The Rhumb Line, the band instead shifts gears and focuses more on quiet introspection. Lead/title track "The Orchard" sets an example for what the listener can expect as it plays like a lazy Sunday in musical form and makes remarkable use of each of the band's components: A stunning string section that creates just the right atmosphere for Wes Miles' wispy wide-eyed innocent tenor, and band members weaving together to form mostly reflective, sometimes sorrowful musical tapestries. Lighter, more energetic tracks like "Boy" and "Massachusetts" provide nice interludes from the mostly contemplative nature of the album. In them, the band channels what could be called their signature sound creating tracks that are bound to please everyone.
The Orchard, with its stellar arrangements, manages to do what so few sophomore release fail to do. It manages to give long time fans something they'll like while also offering up new musical ideas and changing the formula a bit (like "You and I Know" and its female lead vocals). Where some tracks might not be the most lyrically compelling, they more than make up for it with balls-to-the-wall energy, catchiness, and seemingly effortlessly virtuosic string parts.
Give the album a taste with the music video for "Boy"
Ra Ra Riot - "Boy" from Barsuk Records on Vimeo.
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