Ra Ra Riot, The Orchard
Featured Album
A joyful celebration of life — and proof of the healing powers of rock 'n' roll
Ra Ra Riot broke out as both one of the best and one of the most unlikely new indie-rock bands of 2007: a sextet of well-heeled, educated preppies who made danceable chamber-pop that revived the golden age of college rock bands like R.E.M. But their quick ascent was marred by tragedy. The band's founding drummer (and key songwriter) John Pike mysteriously died in June, 2007. Profiles and interviews focused on the band's loss; songs like their breakout track "Dying Is Fine" took on an eerie new resonance. Yet the band soldiered on, relentlessly touring for the next three years.
For a moment, it seemed like the band was coasting on their debut — after all, going three years without releasing any new music is practically an eon for the music blogosphere that relentlessly covered them. But their second disc proves they've got staying power — and the band's tragic loss has only helped them collectively sharpen their songwriting. The Orchard, produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, is a well-rounded collection of tunes that touches on everything from new wave rave-ups ("Massachusetts") to somber, heartbreaking ballads like the stunning "Keep It Quiet." "Too Dramatic" mixes virtuosic strings and a stutter-step guitar-and-bass groove with singer Wes Miles' soaring falsetto. "Do You Remember" recalls Dave Stewart's slick 80s production on Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More." Singer Alexandra Lawn evokes Stevie Knicks with a killer vocal performance on the mysterious ballad "You and I Know."
No one would fault Ra Ra Riot for following up with a tribute album to their friend Pike. But they wisely avoided the pratfall: almost nowhere on the album do Miles' lyrics evoke loss or death. If anything, The Orchard is a joyful celebration of life — and proof of the healing powers of rock 'n' roll.
