Summer takes on a whole new meaning when you enter adulthood. While it does feel nice to walk out into the warm sun after a long day at work, the longer days seem to fly by just as fast as the shorter, colder ones. As a kid, summer meant freedom, a lack of responsibilities, and endless potential fun. On their new album Daniel, Real Estate crafts those warm summer breezes and morphs them into poetic indie rock. The sun-drenched arrangements that drive these 11 tracks act as a catalyst for the harsh realities the band penned and remind us of a simpler time in all our lives. Ironically, the band has never sounded more mature and focused. The tones feel nostalgic while the songwriting says otherwise, focusing on the present and fearlessly combining innocent tones with dark subject matter and confusion for a juxtaposing LP to fit any scenario.
Conflict is at the heart of Daniel, even the length of the album feels like it is trying to combat Real Estate. Thankfully, the band has mastered the art of saying a lot with a little. The minimal arrangements here may sound basic at first but there is a purpose to their simplicity. Real Estate is writing some of the best music of their career, weaving the complexity of the human experience and the many emotions that come with it into subtle musicianship. These songs find consistency in their breezy tones, despite the indie rock arrangements, the vocals are drawn from a more soulful place. The album seems to be built around the harsh realities explored in the lyrics, creating a sonic conflict that is all too infectious to ignore. That is the point, the simple yet potent arrangements are here to cater to the songwriting and emphasize its poetry. No bells and whistles are needed when the music is this palpable.
Acoustic guitars drive this sentimental outing, creating gentle textures with each note sounding purposeful and present. Songwriting like this takes meditative focus, a deeper look inward to not only accept the flaws of the world but portray them with surgical precision. Considering the album’s length, Real Estate had no time to waste. They set the tone for Daniel with “Somebody New”, featuring acoustic plucking that acts as a beautiful backdrop for the band’s many questions. This theme flows throughout the album, the band asks questions we have all asked ourselves but rather than demand answers, they practice patience. By reveling in their past, they unlock the future and deliver it via relaxed melodies.
The consistency is blatant on Daniel but don’t let that distract you from the album’s nuance. A song like “Flowers” features an electrifying bridge you won’t want to miss while the balladry of “Victoria” has the band crafting an unforgettable love song. It won’t take that many listens to fall in love with this album but to truly unveil the magic here, an open heart and hyper-focus are needed. A song like “Freeze Brain” is lined with danceable drums while also delivering one of the best hooks on the album. There is a different reason to love each song on Daniel, when all these moments are strung together by lush vocals and raw emotions, the true purpose of the album is revealed.
Real Estate does more than add another feather in the cap of their storied career, they crafted an opus of sorts. Daniel has the band exploring a new side of their surf-rock influence for a more introspective outing. By keeping the arrangements quaint, their words can sound all the more impactful. With every track that ends, the deeper meaning of Daniel is revealed. Real Estate seamlessly ties in the esoteric with the relatable, landing on a short but powerful LP that simply asks you to question everything without demanding an immediate answer.