Kim Deal’s "Coast" ingeniously blends the blunt honesty of a beachside fixer-upper with the breezy uplift of its brass arrangement, evoking the image of a tropical trickster finding humor in hardship. "Clearly, all of my life I’ve been foolish," she sings over the song’s midtempo sunshine pop, her rasp buoyed by the textured instrumental backdrop. "Tried to hit hard, but I blew it/But it don’t even matter/It’s just human to want a way out/It’s human to wanna win." What could have been a stark reflection transforms into amiable wisdom thru Deal’s delivery, the horns acting like buoyant life preservers within her leisurely melodies.
Inspired by Deal’s experience recovering on Nantucket in the late ’90s — a period during which the Breeders’ momentum faltered due to struggles with addiction — the song paints a vivid scene.Watching young surfers, Deal reflected, "How nice to be a person doing things outside, in daylight!” This candid storytelling makes “Coast” the most evocative track on Nobody Loves you More, akin to the account of a beachside outlaw whose levity acts as its own triumph.
At her most introspective, Deal slows her pace, stretching out like a dreamy afternoon. This penchant for melody recalls her sublime 1991 cover of Chris Bell’s “You And Your Sister” with This Mortal Coil. “Are You Mine?” evokes a similar sincerity, a shimmering ’50s-style doo-wop ballad. Inspired by a fleeting encounter with her mother, who was battling Alzheimer’s, the track hinges on a single question, "Are you mine? Are you my baby?," becoming a haunting refrain carried by echoing pedal steel. "Wish I Was,” with its languid chug and psych-pop sensibilities, unapologetically yearns for youth’s ephemeral glory, echoing lost Love tunes. These atmospheric songs are defined by subtle details: a Beatles-esque guitar solo ascends, heavenly harmonies cascade, a sudden admission of potential regret hangs in the air. Deal croons "Summerland" with the weathered wisdom of an alt-rock Sinatra or post-grunge Gershwin, embracing wonder: "I hear music blowin’ in the breeze.”
The Rat Pack charm of "Summerland" and the easy groove of "Coast" evoke a comforting nostalgia, knowing that Deal penned these tunes while grappling with the loss of her parents. These songs offer a glimpse into the solace found in such intimate memories. The elegiac title track embodies this sentiment, becoming a grand ode to love as an unwavering anchor even in times of disorientation. Notably, it marks Deal’s final collaboration with her late friend Steve Albini, a testament to their enduring partnership. This unlikely duo, known for their raw efficiency, tracked orchestrations and a marching band together at Electrical Audio, a radical departure that expands our understanding of these indie legends. This unexpected turn of events makes Nobody Loves You More even more captivating.