Album by The Cribs

This is the kind of album that comes across like it knows exactly what it wants to do and doesn’t overstay its welcome getting there.

It’s fast, hooky indie rock with a strong power-pop backbone — the kind of songs that lock in quickly and don’t overstay their welcome, with unique vocals that keep things interesting all the way through.

There’s a mix of old and new here. At times it leans into a 70s power-pop feel, and at others it hits with chunkier, noisier riffs that keep it grounded in something more modern. It almost feels like what would’ve happened if Badfinger had formed in the mid-2000s, with a distorted, Teenage Fanclub-style ear for fuzzy pop hooks. It all comes through with a contemporary indie rock feel that keeps it from sounding like a throwback.

I also appreciated how reflective a lot of it feels. There’s a sense of looking back running through the album — not bitter, but a little more grounded. Like reaching a point where you’re starting to see things more clearly than you did before, and thinking about who you were when you thought you had everything figured out.

“Selling a Vibe” sets that tone well. It’s got a great riff and melody, and there’s something fun about how it takes aim at the idea of manufactured art while still being incredibly catchy.

“A Point Too Hard to Make” is one of the best hooks on the album. The chorus just opens up in a way that feels immediate and effortless.

“Never the Same” brings a more frenetic energy — fast-moving, catchy, and very much in that mid-2000s indie rock lane.

“If Our Paths Never Crossed” leans into a more jagged sound, with a bit of a stutter in its rhythm while it reflects on what might have been.

“Distractions” slows things down a bit and shifts into something more reflective. It has a slightly dreamier feel, but still carries those strong melodic instincts, and it lands as one of the more thoughtful moments on the record.

Elsewhere, “You’ll Tell Me Anything” feels like another look back at a younger version of yourself, while “Rose Mist” pulls things into a quieter space without losing that sense of momentum.

This isn’t an album that’s trying to reinvent anything, but it doesn’t need to. The songwriting is sharp, the hooks are strong, and everything moves with purpose.

Verdict: Good

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