After nearly five years, The Neighbourhood, an alternative-rock band, has returned from their hiatus. Their latest album, “(((((ultraSOUND))))),” was released on Nov. 14, 2025. The album has a total of 15 tracks and a run time of 57 minutes.
As of now, the album has been a great success. I, for one, really enjoyed this album. I have listened to The Neighbourhood for many years, and I nearly cried tears of joy when I heard that they were back.
However, I was slightly disheartened at the news that they still have the same drummer, Brandon Fried, who caused issues in the past. In November of 2021, Fried was accused of acting inappropriately towards The Marías' lead vocalist Maria Zardoya, and that same month, Fried was fired from the band.
The band collectively decided it was best to take some time off to prioritize their personal lives. But, like many other fans, I am focusing on the art rather than the artist.
Before the album was released, The Neighbourhood teased 30 second snippets of the songs “OMG” and “Lovebomb.” They later released these two songs along with “Private” on Oct. 25, 2025 as a sneak peek to their album.
Now, let’s dive into the top two most streamed songs as well as my personal favorite song on “(((((ultraSOUND))))).”
“Private”
Track 4, “Private,” is the most-listened-to song on this album. The song is extremely similar to their most popular song “Sweater Weather.” It blends their signature California indie sound with a much more modern pop touch.
Honestly, this was one of my least favorite songs on the album. I feel like the song lacked depth, with the main lyrics being “Shh, keepin' it private / Uh-huh.” The song is extremely catchy, just not my cup of tea.
Analyzing the lyrics deeper, it can be inferred that the song is about lead singer Jesse Rutherford’s past relationships. They were all exposed to the public eye, especially his controversial relationship with singer Billie Eilish. Now, it seems like Rutherford is saying that he is going to be much more private with his current girlfriend.
All in all, the song is good. However, personally, I don’t think it should be the most-streamed song on “(((((ultraSOUND))))),” only because it repeats the same lyrics over and over again.
“Hula Girl”
Next is “Hula Girl,” which is their second most-streamed song on the album. This is the opening track to the album, and it has a very low-key vibe that creates a dreamy vibe. Rutherford’s voice is very faintly layered and reverbed to add to the disassociated fantasy feel.
When I first heard the song, I was, quite honestly, really disappointed; I didn’t like that it wasn’t like their usual production sounds. But, change is good, and after a few listens, I really warmed up to the song and its overall vibe.
Looking at the lyrics, I take the meaning of the song as the singer’s inability to gain control with his life. He sings of finding someone who was “Like an angel from above,” but he was already driving down the wrong road, unable to control the vehicle, causing it to crash. This, of course, is an analogy about his life.
“Holy Ghost”
The final song that caught my attention was “Holy Ghost,” my personal favorite song on the entire album. During the first part of the song, Rutherford’s vocals are just heavenly. The beat and background rhythm is almost muffled in order to spotlight the sole purpose of this song: Rutherford’s words. But then, the beat picks up, catching up with what he is saying.
I adored the lyrics to the song. The Neighbourhood is mainly known for their catchy production style and lyrics— this song, however, was deeper than that; the lyrics really resonated with me.
He sings about wanting to give the person he cares for deeply everything that they want. Even if it drains him because he has experienced firsthand how it feels to never truly be fulfilled. By the end of the song, he still feels empty, going completely unnoticed in the world, like a ghost. He sings the song as if he is out of breath to represent how exhausting it is to prioritize the other person’s needs.
This album was a phenomenal mix of chill, vibey music to indie-alternative music. It is definitely possible that my love for The Neighborhood skews my opinion, but I give this album a good 8/10. Personally, it definitely does not compare to my favorite album “Hard To Imagine The Neighbourhood Ever Changing” or their debut album “I Love You.”
If you haven’t listened to this album, now is a great time, especially now that they announced their tour, called “The Wourld Tour.” The tour will begin next year on March 28, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Not only will the new music be a part of the setlist, but so will hits from past albums. I can’t wait to watch them live!
