Album Review: Blossom by The Summer Set
Feel-good pop quartet The Summer Set are back with a new mature reflection on their time apart, but with their new record they are here to remind everyone of why they work together so well!
The Summer Set is vocalist Brian Logan Dales, drummer Jess Bowen, guitarist John Gomez, and bassist Stephen Gomez. Blossom is the long awaited reunion album following their 2016 success Stories For Monday.
Blossom opens with the passionate instrumental track “The Color of Everything.” The Summer Set opens Blossom with a lonesome piano that grows into a vivacious track that invokes a sense of nostalgia and passion within listeners as it becomes apparent– The Summer Set is back! “I wanna see the color of everything” echoes through the background, setting the tone for an album full of feeling.
“Street Lightning” is track two and feel-good pop song. Focusing in on what might be considered “classic The Summer Set,” this comeback single brings in bouncy drums with a fun chorus. “Street Lightning” leaves listeners ready to find their closest The Summer Set show date, just to dance to the chorus.
On the third track, “My Own Medicine,” arguably their most fun guitar part sets the tone to this song of never learning from mistakes. With lyrics like “I don’t listen to the words I say” and “I do it over and over again, lose every lover and friend,” it becomes clear that this song serves as an enjoyable detour from the themes of maturing and learning.
“Teenagers” features Against the Current reminiscences on a past relationship. Both vocalists (Brian Logan Dales of The Summer Set and Chrissy Costanza of Against the Current) work together with beautifully blended vocals to tell the story of this past relationship from both perspectives. “Look good but we’re bad on paper” aims to show how that image of what could have been continues to linger, even after both parties have moved on.
The fifth track “FTS” features Travie McCoy and is an anthem for not listening to the hate in the world. An infectious chorus with fun “hey hey heys” and a groovy saxophone part in the background sets “FTS” apart from the rest of the album, yet still makes listeners want to get up and dance. Travie McCoy’s verse is vulnerable while maintaining the playful tone of the song, encompassing the perfect amount of balance present throughout the album.
The next song is my personal favorite - “Hard Candy.” “Hard Candy” has expansive guitars and drums that just begs to get stuck in your head in the best kind of way. The rhythm of the song just makes you hit repeat as you want to get up and dance, luckily the bridge strips the song back momentarily, letting listeners catch their breath before singing your heart out once again. Another stand out portion of the song is surprisingly in the outro of the song with impressive vocal runs.
Following “Hard Candy” is “Famous,” another song with an upbeat demeanor. However, the lyrical content contains a more cynical reflection with lyrics like “Wish I could get a break from my breakdown.” This song balances the cynical lyricism with its melodic guitar and a clapping part that one could only hope would be half as fun live!
The Summer Set concludes Blossom with the sentimental track “Back Together.” “Back Together,” despite being the most stripped back song on the album, shows the maturity that has “blossomed” over time for the band that reoccurs throughout the entire album. “Back Together” is a storytelling song set to a beautiful fingerpicking guitar part. The song serves as a raw and emotional story of the band’s history, making a bittersweet ending to their first album from their break.
Blossom is available on all streaming services now! It can be found here. If you want to help support The Summer Set, their merchandise can be found here, while tickets to upcoming shows can be found here!
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