Nervous – The Neighbourhood

Genre-crossing outfit the Neighbourhood mix atmospheric indie rock, electronica, and hip-hop beats with melodic R&B-inflected vocals. Formed in Los Angeles in 2011, the band centers around lead singer Jesse James Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Michael Margott, and drummer Brandon Fried. In 2012, the Neighbourhood released the EP I’m Sorry…, featuring such singles as “Sweater Weather” and “Female Robbery.” The songs gained considerable attention online and helped build interest in the group.

Two more EPs followed in 2013, leading up to the release of their full-length debut I Love You. Buoyed by the continued interest in “Sweater Weather,” as well as the single “Afraid,” the album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and number five on the Top Alternative Albums chart. The following year, the group’s long-delayed mixtape album, #000000 & #FFFFFF, appeared as a free download online. Included on the album was the single “icanteven,” featuring French Montana.

In 2015, the Neighbourhood returned their sophomore full-length album, the Justyn Pilbrow-produced Wiped Out! The album peaked at number one on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums chart and spawned several singles including “R.I.P. 2 My Youth,” “The Beach,” and “Daddy Issues.” The Hard EP followed in September 2017 and cracked the Billboard 200 as a surprise release. ~ Matt Collar