THE NEIGHBOURHOOD'S SCORES WITH 'I LOVE YOU'

Before we begin, this band's is stoooooopid!  Seriously, did they sit around throwing 

names and finally come up with: "Lets change neightborood to neighbourhood! Fuck 

yeah!" If hey did I am going to assume, because I like them, that they were really really 

stoned.

I love you, the debut album by the California based indie-pop band The Neighborhood 

turned the local band into one of the hottest break out indie acts of 2013. The band 

formed last year is bringing indie R&B to the mainstream.

The entire album consists of dark snarky lyrics that carry a comedic undertone.  ‘Afraid 

the first song on the record illustrates this when he sings:  “All my friends always lie to 

me…fuck you anyway, you make me want to scream”

‘Alleyways’ is a ghostly R&B jam that’s upbeat and echoes a fusion of British acts like 

Muse and Stereophonics. ‘Female Robbery’ is a seductive track where singer Jesse 

Rutherford, to be sent a felon to apiece his soul. The song is eerie with sexy synths and 

background yelps.

In ‘Let it Go’ Rutherford adopts a raspy rap vocal that flows through silky guitar tones. It 

opens with Rutherford voice slightly resonating Sublime’s Bradley Nowell then shifts to a 

defiant ethereal serenade.

‘Sweater Weather’ is clearly the most upbeat song of the album and fluctuates between 

dancey rhythms and a sensual lullaby.  It is always refreshing to hear a distinctive voice 

stand out from the indie music pool and it is safe to say that Rutherford is one of them. 

The singer manages make sexy sound humorous yet cool.  However, although their tunes 

are catchy and easy on the ears, their sound as a whole isn’t mind blowing,

The band has received much hype since they began last year and broke into the music 

scene flashing indie rock layered with hip-hop hued beats. Their front man is equipped 

with a background in rap, but is now clearly playing to the mainstream. They aren’t 

exactly mall rock, like Maroon 5, but they are also not pushing any boundaries.  Some say 

this band’s sound feels done to near-death already; the truth is that the dream-like hip-

hop this quintet offers is good, but has room to grow.