This record, Album, is

(I deeply wanted to put the awkward phrasing out there)

really fucking nice and fun; Laura is an absolute banger of an anthem, and the rest is very, very, very good (you can take my word for it).

After listening to Owens' more recent record. I thought it could all just be nostalgia: I think I listened to this back in 2009 (as I also remember Best Coasts' Crazy for You, The Drums' Summertime! — and, while we're at it, The XX, SBTRKT, James Blake's debut, but that was all a little later, and in any case besides the point) — and, point being, this record is nostalgia itself. It sounds old, and also timeless.

I'm surprised by a few very harsh opinions on the internet (their content, and naturally not their existence). I suppose I am not necessarily opposed to wearing influences on the sleeve — maybe even being blatant and obvious about them — and it doesn't even feel like that is the case with this record. People mention The Beach Boys, Elvis Costello (?!), Spiritualized, Felt (just check the Wikipedia page), but I would not dismiss the record as just pastiche. It still takes a lot to make a good record; even more for a great one.