Prepare to be spellbound. Broncho’s fifth studio album, Natural Pleasure, doesn’t just flirt with greatness—it obliterates boundaries and redefines what an indie rock album can be. This is more than music; it’s an odyssey of sound, a kaleidoscopic dreamscape where lo-fi textures collide with psychedelic wonder. Imagine Radiohead’s Kid A filtered through a haze of pot smoke and reimagined for a generation craving both grit and transcendence. This is an album meant to be savored with headphones, a masterful contender for Indie Rock Album of the Year and a long-playing experience that invites listeners to lose themselves in its rich textures and hypnotic soundscapes.
Broncho has always been synonymous with reinvention, and Natural Pleasure marks their boldest transformation yet. This long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s Bad Behavior dives headfirst into lush, hypnotic atmospheres without abandoning the raw, gritty energy that made them a household name in indie rock. The Tulsa-based quartet—Ryan Lindsey (vocals), Ben King (guitar), Penny Pitchlynn (bass), and Nathan Price (drums)—has crafted a sound that’s as intimate as it is otherworldly, blending introspection with euphoric release.
Since their breakout hit “Class Historian” in 2014, Broncho has been at the forefront of indie innovation, earning accolades from legends like Josh Homme and Jack White. Their music, equal parts gritty rock and dreamy psychedelia, has found its way onto HBO’s Girls, Apple’s Platonic, and FX’s Reservation Dogs, further cementing their status as cultural touchstones. But Tulsa remains their spiritual home, a city whose musical lineage—from Leon Russell and JJ Cale to The Flaming Lips—infuses every note they play.
From the opening tracks, “Imagination” and “Funny,” Natural Pleasure sets the stage for a sonic journey defined by playfulness and introspection. “Imagination” envelops listeners with layered production and Ryan Lindsey’s understated but captivating vocals, pulling them into a dreamy haze of possibility. “Funny” follows with its offbeat charm and infectious groove, encapsulating the duality of introspection and levity that defines the album.
Thematically, Lindsey reflects on love, relationships, and the natural pleasures of life, creating a cohesive yet unpredictable tapestry of sound. Each track is a meticulously crafted world of its own, inviting listeners to lose themselves completely. “I Swear” marries the infectious sing-along energy of their breakout “Class Historian” with a downtempo, more hypnotic pulse. Its instantly addictive “da da da da da” refrain will feel like a homecoming for longtime fans while album closer “Dreamin” transforms from honky-tonk roots into an otherworldly finale, encapsulating the album’s transcendental essence.
Recorded primarily at Blackwatch Studios in Norman, Oklahoma with Chad Copelin and completed at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, the album balances spontaneity with meticulous craftsmanship. “Get Gone” pushes Broncho’s sound to exhilarating new heights, a late-night anthem designed for sweaty, MDMA-fueled dance floors, festival stages, or even impromptu kitchen discos.
