There’s a reason why Real Estate haven't hit the mainstream since their 2009 debut. The sound they have grown to master denies the characteristics of popular music, instead embodying subtlety mixed with ease and a dash of somberness. With Atlas, their third album, Real Estate continue this refined subtlety and add distinctive craftsmanship to make Atlas their strongest.
Martin Courtney’s lyrics sound more emotional and biographical. The guitar work feels more visceral, generating melodic licks that follow the vocal melody, accenting the songs to keep listeners focused. Atlas stands out from Real Estate’s previous albums, utilizing Courtney’s lyrical depth, guitars that work as their own voice rather than filler and a chill aesthetic for a kicked-back, relaxing mood.
While most of the songs sound very similar—not traveling far from the comfort zone of the musicians—they purposely encapsulate that very feeling of comfort with a yearning for more. Courtney’s songwriting explores themes like searching for the right person, trying to find happiness and not accepting the present reality.
On lead single “Talking Backwards,” Courtney laments, “I might as well be talking backwards / Am I making any sense to you? / And the only thing that really matters / Is the one thing I can’t seem to do.” He misses the kind of relationship he once had, where communication was easy and meaningful.
The album revisits this type of nostalgia followed by the realization that nothing can be as it once was before. “Past Lives” examines the impossibility of going back to one’s old life, that in order to be happy, one must move forward. Melancholy guitar riffs and reverberating chord progressions paint a picture of going back to a hometown only to see that the place is nothing how it used to be in the singer's mind.
As the album continues, the subject matter seems to brighten, if only slightly. “Primitive,” “How Might I Live” and “Horizon” present the surprising pleasure of finding the right person in a strange world. Pretty solos, funky keyboards, guitar effects and steady drumming patterns provide depth and a relatable palette of emotions for audiences.
These songs tell a story—biographical or not—that resonates through the instruments and Courtney’s voice. Shoegaze-like vibes ease listeners into a dreamy, introspective space, which is neither dark nor light, achieving a bliss that tunes out the white noise of life. Atlas functions as an upgrade in Real Estate’s work, offering a smooth course where the melodic, delightful journey is everything and the destination is unimportant.
Rating: A-
