Band: Washed Out
Release: 2009

1. “Belong” – 8.6
2. “Good Luck” – 8.8
3. “Phone Call” – 9.1
4. “Olivia” – 8.7
5. “Clap Intro” – 8.0
6. “Luck” – 8.2
7. “It’s Kate’s Birthday” – 7.1
8. “You Will Be Sad” – 7.3
9. “Yeah” – 7.4

Comments: Like the name of the band, this music is “washed out.” A lot of the album is coated in some kind of slick material that sort of drowns all instrumentation…at least to a certain extent. What results is sample heavy synth-pop. On many occasions, I like what I’m hearing. There are some extrema like “Olivia” that is entirely new wave-y, which is okay because it sounds pretty good, but doesn’t have much lasting appeal. If Washed Out expected “It’s Kate’s Birthday” to be a song embraced by girls named Kate near and far, they effectively failed! Your best bet for liking anything this band has done on this album is the first four songs.

Grade: 8.2