High/Low is the debut studio album by the American band Nada Surf, released in 1996. It contains the hit single "Popular". High/Low was produced by Ric Ocasek. Nada Surf supported it by touring with Superdrag and the Gravel Pit.
Critical reception
The Baltimore Sun noted that "there's an almost elegant austerity to the album's sound, but what ultimately brings the songs into focus is the band's ultra-efficient playing, which is so sparing you'd think the recording studio charged them by the note." The Ottawa Citizen concluded that Nada Surf "may have been moulded by a superior studio presence, but the root of their sound, guitar-driven and heavy on the backbeat, speaks of an energy that was harnessed and focused, not manufactured."
Track listing
All tracks written by Matthew Caws and Daniel Lorca, except where noted.
- "Deeper Well" – 3:55 - written by Caws, Lorca and Robert Randall
- "The Plan" – 4:31
- "Popular" – 3:48 - written by Caws, Lorca and Gloria Winters
- "Sleep" – 3:47
- "Stalemate" – 3:38
- "Treehouse" – 2:43
- "Icebox" – 3:17
- "Psychic Caramel" – 4:00
- "Hollywood" – 2:20
- "Zen Brain" – 4:28
Personnel
Nada Surf
- Matthew Caws – guitar, vocals
- Daniel Lorca – bass
- Ira Elliot – drums
Production
- Bruce Calder – engineer, mixer
- George Marino – mastering
- Ric Ocasek – producer
- Andy Salas – assistant engineer
Charts
Album
{| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Peak
position
|-
|align="left"|1996
|align="left"|Billboard 200
|align="left"|63
|-
|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Song
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Position
|-
|align="left"|1996
|align="left"|"Popular"
|align="left"|Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
|align="left"|11
|-
|}