Known for their hit 2012 single “Sweater Weather,” The Neighbourhood, vocalist Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott, and drummer Brandon Fried, return after five years of seemingly radio silence. Reuniting with barely any social media coverage, they quietly released three fresh singles, “Private,” “OMG,” and “Lovebomb,” on October 23rd, and their widely anticipated seventh studio album (((((ultraSOUND))))) on Friday, November 14th, 2025. Fans speculate that their minimal approach was due to the controversies the band had picked up since 2020, specifically with their drummer, Brandon Fried.
(((((ultraSOUND))))) is a record that, according to the band, symbolised their fresh start by returning to their roots. Fried demonstrates this purpose the best, because despite being dropped from the band after allegations and confrontations, he returned to The Neighbourhood to create (((((ultraSOUND))))). As guitarist Zach Abels states in a conversation with DJ Zane Lowe on Monday, November 17th, the group “[saw] genuine growth and change in the last few years with Brandon.”
I’ve been listening to The Neighbourhood since “Sweater Weather”’s release in 2012, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that they were coming back from their hiatus. And, ever since (((((ultraSOUND))))) was released, it has never left my AirPods. You can ask Lauren Lee for confirmation. Hopefully, my long history with the band makes me a credible source of information.
After listening to their singles as soon as they were released, I instantly fell in love with Lovebomb and would definitely put it in my top three. Rutherford’s calm yet emotional voice perfectly captures the urge to say “I love you,” even though it might be too soon. I also thoroughly enjoyed listening to Private, but only for the instrumentals. Even though Rutherford’s sultry vocals add a nice touch, I do think it gets redundant as the chorus is “Shh, keepin’ it private / Uh-huh” over and over again. With its higher energy level and pop-rock vibe, OMG is unlike anything else on this record and gives a refreshing contrast to the rest of the album. The electric guitar takes centre stage, complementing the rough and intense vocals. OMG is about a resilient relationship with unwavering commitment, and some theories suggest that the song is about The Neighbourhood’s relationship with their fans.
Listening to the full album for the first time, I thought that it had a strong start with Hula Girl. Throughout the song, Rutherford describes his obsession with a hula girl stuck to his dashboard during an inevitable car crash, begging it to “turn his world” and fix everything that went wrong. “Its lyrics are catchy but not complicated. I really like how I don’t have to think that hard to understand the purpose behind the song,” Junior Lauren Lee explains. To be honest, though, the first time I listened to (((((ultraSOUND))))) every song after Holy Ghost seemed to blend together.
“Although not my favorite album, I enjoyed listening to (((((ultraSOUND))))) and I think it’s up there,” remarks Lee. For me, it was comforting to hear my childhood band play together again; it gave the same energy as their old songs did, and the gems on this record are songs I would keep on my playlists. Every part is a vibe, but it’s predictable. I think it would pair well with a cloudy, rainy night of introspection and reminiscing, but, for listeners looking for something different, something deeper from them, I would spend my hour listening to Chip Chrome and the Mono-Tones.
