The Head and the Heart to release third studio album

For a band with such memorable music, it’s strange to think that Signs of Light will only be The Head and The Heart’s third album. The release, which will be available Friday, Sept. 9.

The Head and the Heart’s self-titled first album was filled with beautiful harmonies, lyrics that would fit right in in a Hemingway or Fitzgerald work and a classic sound that seemed to reminisce on multiple eras all at once. The follow up album Let’s Be Still saw the band polish up their sound and add more joyful beats behind their songs. This time around, The Head and The Heart seemed to have expanded their sound to something more contemporary. Longtime fans need not worry though, the band still effortlessly maintains its beat café folk style.

The single, “All We Ever Knew” is followed by “Library Magic,” a more brooding melody backed by a soft percussion. The vocal harmonies mesh perfectly, allowing the listener to hear every voice but never be quite sure how many voices there are. The new album is an interesting departure from the lyrics of the band’s first album. Its musical evolution seems to have led to more concise lyrics. The words, especially when sung, still pack the same beautiful and ethereal punch, but they’re able to do so with more grounded and simple lyrics. The next single is “Colors,” with whispering vocals and lingering strings. The vulnerability presents the song as a moment in time rather than a recorded product. The sparse use of female vocalist Charity Thielen only empowers lead singer Josiah Johnson’s pain that much more. When Thielen does come in for her own verse, it’s a delicate voice offering hope against Johnson’s yearning. The instruments act, as they do in most of the band’s songs, as another vocalist seamlessly mimicking the melody and harmonies.

The most recent single, “Rhythm & Blues,” is a contemporary indie folk hit — imagine Nada Surf gone folk. Like the other singles, “Rhythm & Blues” doesn’t need a fast beat to keep the listener engaged. While it wouldn’t work as a rave banger or a selection of a frat party playlist, it’s the kind of music that soundtracks a road trip with friends or a much needed day of swaying around in your room by yourself.

The Head and the Heart have mastered the ability to be multiple things at once. There are multiple levels to every song. The lyrics often talk about heartbreak or the past, the emotion twirls between longing and acceptance. The music is perfect to daydream along with but can also be the perfect acoustic dance party soundtrack. Signs of Light is an example of what all artists should hope for their third album — a continuation of their artistic vision while challenging their comfort zones.

The band is on tour until Feb. 8 and will stop in Los Angeles to play the Greek Theatre on Oct. 7.