I've enjoyed Rival Summers music since I stumbled across the Blankets And Sheets EP way back in 2010. (Check out my review of the EP for a blast from the past:
HERE). Back in those days the project was more of a solo project of front-man Leo Bautista. It reminded me of bands like Dashboard Confessional, The Lyndsay Diaries, and Secondhand Serenade's early music. Much like those bands Bautista has evolved Rival Summers over time into more of a band sound. Now a duo, Rival Summers' newest album, Undeniable, is much more in the vein soundwise of a band like The Maine in their American Candy era with tinges of Andrew McMahon's solo sound. Just check out the piano balled "In The Garden" to hear what I'm talking about. Sam Ridgell's permanent addition to the band adds a lot of style to the rhythm section and sound of the duo. Bautista's vocal delivery has some really nice melodic harmonies tailor made for the spring/summer. His voice has continued to improve throughout the band's career and he delivers one of his most solid performances on the album. Overall this has a really great pop sound that flows really nicely throughout the album's ten tracks. The new album, Undeniable, is probably the best music and most well crafted songwriting the band has ever put out. I still hold a soft spot for Blankets And Sheets, but Undeniable is an undeniably well done pop/rock album.
*In an attempt to offer more thoughts on and review more singles,
mixtapes, and albums we do some "quick reviews". This means
you'll get some thoughts on the project, but it probably will not be as
in depth as our full fledged reviews.
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