Fairbanks, Alaska, might be more famous for its endless winter nights than for sparkly indie rock, but The Casey Smith Project is out to change that.
On their third full-length album, Just Like You Wanted It, the Alaskan trio delivers its most confident and soulful collection yet — a warm, inviting record that feels like the first sunrise after a long, dark season.
Formed in 2016, CSP has always thrived on a delicate balance of lo-fi indie grooves and melodic pop dazzle, with a deep love for tape delay and lush synth. But this time, frontman Casey Smith and his rotating cast of collaborators lean deeper into classic soul and vintage pop, crafting songs that sway, shimmy, and swoon in all the right ways.
The album opens with “Hold On,” a bright, Laurel Canyon-style anthem that drips with nostalgia and effortless hooks. “Stop and Get Some Gas” cruises along amiably before exploding into a cathartic, falsetto-laced howl, a highlight that cements Casey’s approach to vocal experimentation.
Meanwhile, “Confess My Love” is a joyous, retro rhythm and blues burner that demands a sweaty dance floor, and “Loving Arms” flirts openly with Motown’s timeless tenderness. Closing track “Love Appeal” ties it all together, shifting between buttery indie-soul warmth and jagged guitar breakouts, a testament to Smith’s refusal to be pinned down.
“Inner Vision” might be the album’s biggest surprise, a standout moment where Smith’s signature falsetto shines over an unpredictable song structure that pushes beyond the record’s usual terrain. It’s precisely this adventurous spirit that makes it my personal favorite.
Across the entire album, Smith’s impressive vocal range is on full display. On tracks like “Useless,” he truly lets loose, delivering soaring, impassioned belts that give the song an undeniable punch.
The record’s release on limited brown marble vinyl underscores its analog warmth and sense of place. Smith, who started sketching some of these songs as far back as six years ago, has crystallized them into a collection that feels both meticulously crafted and joyously unpolished.
While The Third Eye often covers heavy psych and distortion, The Casey Smith Project’s Just Like You Wanted It is a nice break and a refreshing detour into crisp, soulful indie rock. It sometimes feels a bit too mushy, like something from a rom-com soundtrack, but it goes down smoothly nonetheless.
Casey Smith Project: Bandcamp | Instagram | Official Website
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