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Weight Is a Gift

Nada SurfAudio CD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)

Price: $8.79 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
MP3 Music, 11 Songs, 2005 $8.99  
Audio CD, 2005 $8.79  
Vinyl, 2009 --  

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Samples
Song Title Time Price
listen  1. Concrete Bed 2:29$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  2. Do It Again 3:39$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  3. Always Love 3:18$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  4. What Is Your Secret 3:26$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  5. Your Legs Grow 4:00$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  6. All Is A Game 3:26$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  7. Blankest Year 2:12$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  8. Comes A Time 4:58$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  9. In The Mirror 3:41$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen10. Armies Walk 3:28$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen11. Imaginary Friends 4:45$0.99  Buy MP3 


Amazon's Nada Surf Store

Music

Image of album by Nada Surf

Photos

Image of Nada Surf

Biography

Nada Surf has been a band for 10 years — longer than most of their living peers have been out of a car seat. If you know your stuff, you know the story. If you don’t, here it is. We begin where all good things outside of Seattle do — in NYC:

Matthew Caws and Daniel Lorca met in high school and play around the city in a few short-lived bands, eventually forming a trio ... Read more in Amazon's Nada Surf Store

Visit Amazon's Nada Surf Store
for 14 albums, 7 photos, and 1 full streaming song.

Frequently Bought Together

Weight Is a Gift + Lucky (Dig) + Let Go
Price for all three: $23.48

Buy the selected items together
  • Lucky (Dig) $5.70
  • Let Go $8.99


Product Details

  • Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
  • Original Release Date: 2005
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Barsuk
  • ASIN: B000AMJD9W
  • Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,352 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Produced with Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, The Weight is a Gift is a less elliptical musical offering than Let Go. Just as that 2003 recording put Nada Surf back on the map, after several years stuck in post-major label limbo, their fourth full-length proves its success was no fluke. As before, singer/guitarist Matthew Caws is as much lovesick dreamer as pop culture junkie. Last time around, he was extolling the pleasures of Blonde on Blonde, now it's Paris, Texas ("Comes a Time") and "Lenny Bruce's Bug Eyes" ("Imaginary Friends"). Ultimately though, it's the more emotionally direct material that leaves the biggest impression, like "Your Legs Grow" and "Always Love" (the only song that sounds a little like Death Cab). The one exception would be the fuzzed-out, but still poppy "The Blankest Year," which deviates into darker territory, like the Hollies covering Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

The follow-up to 2003's masterpiece, Let Go, is a perfect pop album sure to alleviate the growing breathless anticipation among long-term fans and recent converts. It carries on the contemplative tone that characterized much of Let Go with tracks of heartrending beauty, introspection, wit, and often deceptively dark lyrics, while also displaying the band's penchant for pure pop melody. Produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists, The Thermals). Barsuk. 2005.

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
(33)
4.3 out of 5 stars
Different music, and every song is good! Hummingbirds  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
And now I have the album, I can say it's the right follow up to Let Go. Michiel Heinicke  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The wieght IS a gift April 17, 2006
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Matthew Caws understands the value of hardship and speaks of it so eloquently it moves me every time I listen to "The Weight is a Gift". Ever asked yourself the age-old question, "why do bad things happen to good people" or "why me"? Ever think about personal responsibility in regards to your feelings? This cd may bring comfort and answers. It does so for me.

But that was not my first impression upon listening to this cd. After the first listen I was so-so about it; basic, well-crafted pop that would likely gather dust on the shelf. But instead of blowing it off I kept listening and Nada Surf pulled me in. It's very well recorded, the band plays great and Caws has a wonderful voice, and all this leading to a performance that is more than the sum of it's parts. Now I cannot listen to "Weight" without being moved.

There is a lifetime of experience in these 11 songs and Nada Surf lays it out ever so eloquently. In regards to both the music and the metaphor, believe it: the weight IS a gift.
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19 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Can it top "Let Go"? October 5, 2005
Format:Audio CD
Before I write anything, you must understand how much I love Nada Surf's previous album, "Let Go". I would certainly put it in my Top 20 favorite albums of all-time. Whenever you have a situation like that, you cross your fingers that their next album can be nearly as good. Well, I would go so far to say it's better, but in a different way. It's like a companion piece to "Let Go". They didn't dramatically change their sound like some bands might do after a huge hit when they are afraid of being compared to their previous effort. As I listened to "The Weight is a Gift", I kept wondering: "Could this band ever go wrong?"

Upon first listen, the album sounds much more "poppy" and "cheerful" then "Let Go" as a whole. This tone is set from the get go with "Concrete Bed", with it's lush vocals and breezy guitar. But the more I listen to the remaining songs, the more they resemble the tone of "Let Go". There are more mid-tempo, concise rock/pop songs and fewer ballads compared to "Let Go". It's really hard to pick a standout song, because they are all solid. I would probably pick "What is Your Secret?". I think the reason is because of the catchy lyrics that permeate this entire album....such as: "Our movies don't play much anymore/the actress was fired". Or my personal favorite phrase (from "Imaginary Friends"): "Lenny Bruce's bug eyes."

Recently I have been inundated with new music and most albums I am lucky to listen to one time in its entirety. However, I have probably listened to this album at least 10 times since I got it 2 weeks ago. I have only two somewhat negative things to say about the album. (1) If you are put off by bad language in songs, you might not enjoy "The Blankest Year", in which the f-word is repeated several times. Admittedly, I don't like such language in songs and I don't like the trend toward it these days. However, this song is so catchy you might look past it. Astonishes me that they did put it in the song. (2) There is about 5 minutes of no sound after the last song until something almost as unrewarding starts up. Again, I have no idea why bands do this. Either way, it shouldn't stop you from buying this album!
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Directness is a gift... September 13, 2005
Format:Audio CD
For those expecting "Let Go" Part II...

You may be surprised.

Gone are the hallowed introspection, moody musings and indie-production that made Let Go shine. On this new LP, I don't see the harrowing grace that was "Fruit Fly" or the wispy and up-front melancholia that was "Blonde on Blonde."

I do see a fine new LP that's more direct, more clear, more "sunny" pop sounding, yet still retains the trademark Nada Surf songcraft and wit.

I'm still mulling over the new disc, but have very good impressions on the different direction this new title takes.

The guitars are sharp and more "direct". There's less "air" to the songs -- tighter constructions rather than blissful melodies that take time to develop or those that refrain over-and-over (and often collapse on itself).

Lyrics are as wonderful as ever (e.g. - the weight is a gift line is simply great), vocals = more upfront.

If this signals the beginning of a great musical '05 fall, I'm all for it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect power pop
I can't think of an album with a better 1-2-3 opening sequence than "The Weight Is A Gift." Until you hear the music, lyrics like "To find someone you love/You gotta be someone you... Read more
Published on January 24, 2009 by Uncle Non
5.0 out of 5 stars Melancholy, Hope, & Life Woven Into A Great Album
When I see an album with over a dozen reviews I think what can I add? My two cents I guess! In a way perhaps I am unique for a couple of reasons: I am almost 49 years old and I... Read more
Published on July 15, 2008 by John Werner
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
This is an excellent CD! The first I've purchased by Nada Surf, and I really like their music. Unlike some bands, all their songs do not sound the same. Read more
Published on April 28, 2008 by Hummingbirds
5.0 out of 5 stars addicting!
This album is the kind of album that is so addicting that for three months, I listened to nothing else. Read more
Published on February 23, 2008 by Erin Walsh
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, sweet satisfaction
Arguably the greatest Nada Surf album, this compilation is completely cohesive. It flows perfectly and there isn't one song I wouldn't consider "my favorite. Read more
Published on January 1, 2008 by Alexandria E. Doll
3.0 out of 5 stars Average at best. What happened? (3 stars)
I know this isn't going to necessarily be a popular opinion, but I don't think this album has much going for it. Read more
Published on January 25, 2007 by A. Nani Moss
4.0 out of 5 stars A must own for any loyal Barsuk lover
I am a loyal patron of the Barsuk label, and this album is truly one of my current faves. It is a little Death Cab mixed with a hint of Goo Goo Dolls. Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by E. Noe
5.0 out of 5 stars Waiting for more....Nada Surf - Weight is a Gift
Matthews Caws is my hero, and my hero seems to have bad luck with women. I say this not to be mean, but after my friend and I listened to this album non-stop along with Let Go (a... Read more
Published on December 14, 2006 by D. Gaynor
4.0 out of 5 stars Quality Pop
The first 6 songs would have made a truly perfect album. I have no idea what "Your Legs Grow" is about, but it's a beautiful sounding tune. Read more
Published on November 11, 2006 by Music Lover
3.0 out of 5 stars How to evolve
The last Nada Surf record I listened to was their first with the funny song 'Popular', the rest of the album I dismissed for being too much like Weezer. Read more
Published on October 12, 2006 by M. Buisman
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