Ra Ra Riot- The Orchard

Many bands find themselves struggling to juggle the competing demands of innovation and marketability. Far too many albums are dragged down by this weight, losing the energy and drive that debuts often have. In their sophomore effort, Ra Ra Riot maintains glimpses of their original ineffable energy, but not enough to sustain the entire record.

The Orchard’s highlights find the band in pop-music overdrive, with frenetic drumming and lilting strings alternately clashing and meshing with one another. It is these standouts, such as “Too Dramatic” and “Shadowcasting,” that also find singer Wes Miles and his distinctively angelic voice in top form, as he utilizes his impressive range to its fullest extent. In their few dabbles into new territories, including the sprawling centerpiece “You And I Know,” they thankfully manage to maintain some of this infectious joy, hinting at future life for the band.

On too many tracks, however, the music languishes as the group sinks into complacency. The slow, wandering ballads like “Keep It Quiet” and “Do You Remember” suffer the most. Ra Ra Riot’s stagnancy since 2008’s The Rhumb Line becomes all too apparent without its distinctive high octane. The strings begin to sound like tired loops, Miles’ voice becomes unnecessarily melancholic, and the usually impressive rhythms falters and slips by the wayside.

Aside from a few catchy standouts, The Orchard is bit of a forgettable misfire that strays too far from comfort.