First Posted: 9/2/2013
Two weeks ago, Parachute released “Overnight,” the group’s third album to date. The band was straight out of college when they were picked up by Dave Matthews Band’s Red Light Management in 2008.
You have probably heard Parachute’s songs in Nivea’s skincare ads and Walmart’s TV commercials without even realizing it. With their new album, the band has updated its straightforward pop sound to incorporate the newest popular electronics. It’s a good move that will hopefully allow their songs to effortlessly slip onto pop radio’s airwaves. “Overnight’s” songs are unlikely to make a huge splash, but they’re catchy and fun. The album will appeal to people who enjoy upbeat music and charismatic musicians.
Every song on “Overnight” features very clean, falsetto choruses. Parachute’s lead singer, Will Anderson, hits all the right notes, and his harmonies are spot on. The band tries out some pretty experimental B-sections and bridges on a couple songs, but beyond that, “Overnight” doesn’t stray far from its core. The album’s lead single, “Can’t Help,” sounds nearly identical to a handful of Maroon 5 songs. (For what it’s worth, Will Anderson’s voice is more dynamic than Adam Levine’s, but less distinctive.)
The album’s standout track is the electro-trash gospel hymn “Higher,” which showcases the band at its most adventurous. If Wavves, Queen, and Purity Ring were to ever cross space and time to collaborate, “Higher” would probably be the result. It’s regrettable that the band didn’t try to center the rest of “Overnight” around the song’s sound.
Parachute’s music is solid, but it’s not quite fashionable enough to make it to the forefront of pop playlists. Whether you will enjoy this album comes down to what you’re looking for in music. If you’re looking for music that moves you, challenges you, and opens your mind up to new possibilities, “Overnight” probably isn’t the album for you. If you want your music to be comfortable, toe-tappy, and fun, check out Parachute’s new album and be merry.
Parachute ‘Overnight’ Rating: W W W V
-Matt Morgis, Weekender Correspondent
