“We’re like baseball and hotdogs/ You’re Ferris Bueller and I’m your day off,” sings Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive on “Know That I Know,” possibly the best lyric to encapsulate the mood and style the band’s crafted on its newest album, Obviously. From start to finish, the record sounds like a set you’d catch at a summer concert series when the days are long and warm, and there was, of course, no pandemic. 

It’s the band’s eighth album together and first since 2018’s Free Yourself Up and the nearly 18-month tour that followed. The latest is nothing but a good time start to finish. The group, now a quintet since the addition of tour mate Akie Bermiss, proves its unique way of arranging styles, instruments and genres makes for smooth listening.

The album starts in an upbeat rush with three of the bests songs coming first. There’s “Hypotheticals,” which sets the mood, cluing us into their intentions to keep no style or sound off-limits. Then on “Hush Money,” the power of Price’s singing drives the song over a slightly jazzy, country-inspired track. Her deep, raw vocalizing through the chorus pairs perfecting with the electric guitar. Then comes “Same Old News,” a duet between Price and Bermiss, now a fellow singer, songwriter, keyboardist and even beatboxer for the group. He’s been touring with the band for the last five years, but Obviously is the first time he’s produced music. Their voices alternate and work with one another excellently, bringing a lively, groovy duet to life about an older couple reveling in what others always have to say about them. 

It’s impossible to pinpoint where the album falls genre or style-wise. Produced by Mike Elizondo, know for a wide range of songwriting and producing collaborations from rappers Dr. Dre and Eminem to vocalists Carrie Underwood and Mary J. Blige. There are elements of jazz, rock, pop and even country fused throughout. And it’s obvious in Price’s stellar voice that she’s spent time touring with bands and choirs. She’s able to carry the range of sounds and instruments with control and variety in style. At moments she sounds almost like Sara Bareilles and others like the moody, sexy Jorja Smith or jazzy Amy Winehouse.

Social commentary is also expertly sprinkled throughout, from snarky comments about womanhood and femininity to real calls for actions combating climate change. “I’ve got a Plan B and if it’s absolutely necessary we’ll go to Plan C,” she sings on “Hypotheticals.” Then, on “Being A Woman,” which was penned by bassist Bridget Kearney, she calls out systemic misogyny and how it affects the livelihood of women everywhere: “Eighty cents on the dollar/ And you need every dime/ Cause you got a baby/ And she cries all the time.”

On “Making Do,” Lake Street Dive literally take time to apologize to future generations and our planet, with Price singing, “A perfect paradise of too many guilty pleasures/ And you pay the cost, you pay the cost/ To the next generation, Merry Christmas.” It’s blunt, but it’s the truth, and the video goes as far as featuring Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), co-sponsor of the Green New Deal legislation.

Despite the upbeat style, Lake Street Dive doesn’t forget to slow things down every once in a while. On “Anymore,” Price contemplates finally giving up on love, singing, “I wanted to fall in love but we fell short/ Darlin’ I’m not falling anymore.” She then lets bandmate Mike Olson take over on trumpet, an excellent pairing for the piano.

Obviously concludes with “Sarah,” the first song recorded for the album. Performed a capella with the band members’ backing voices slightly distorted, Lake Street Dive uses the final song to prove its versatility. If the album failed to help relax you, take some of the advice they throw the song’s protagonist: “You’re foolish and sad/ You’re gorgeous and mad/ Take a drag on that last cigarette.”

Follow Domenic Strazzabosco at Twitter.com/domenicstrazz and Instagram.com/domenicstrazz.