The Neighbourhood

Recognized for their bummed out beach anthem "Sweater Weather," Southern California's the Neighbourhood blend moody, '90s-style alt-rock and pop with hip-hop and electronic flourishes. It's a blue summer vibe they first introduced on 2012's I'm Sorry... EP, whose single, "Sweater Weather," gained momentum online before hitting number one on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart and going platinum. The band continued to explore a similarly evocative, cross-pollinated blend of sounds, even digging into synth-heavy pop on 2018's The Neighbourhood and sci-fi concepts on 2022's Chip Chrome & the Mono-Tones. Following an extended hiatus, they returned with 2025's Ultrasound.

Formed in 2011 in Newbury Park, California, the Neighbourhood centers around lead singer Jesse James Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Michael Margott, and drummer Brandon Fried. In 2012, the group 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 band. By 2013, "Sweater Weather" had topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and solidified the group's buzz-worthy status.

Two more EPs followed in 2013, leading up to the release of the Neighbourhood's 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 set was the single "icanteven" featuring French Montana.

In 2015, the Neighbourhood issued their sophomore full-length, the Justyn Pilbrow-produced Wiped Out! The record 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 appeared in September 2017 and cracked the Billboard 200 as a surprise release.

The band's third album, the eponymously titled The Neighbourhood, arrived in 2018, anchored by the single "Scary Love." It peaked at number four on the Top Alternative Albums chart. Two more EPs followed, To Imagine and Ever Changing, with all three of the group's 2018 EPs later compiled into a release called Hard to Imagine the Neighbourhood Ever Changing.

The Neighbourhood continued their prolific streak, returning in 2019 with the acoustic single "Middle of Somewhere," followed in August 2020 with "Cherry Flavored." Both tracks were included on the group's fourth full-length, 2020's Bowie-esque sci-fi concept album Chip Chrome & the Mono-Tones.

In November 2021, the Neighbourhood went on indefinite hiatus, citing various personal issues and life changes outside of the band as the reason. A year later, they parted ways with drummer Brandon Fried after the Marias lead singer María Zardoya accused him of sexual misconduct. Fried apologized for his behavior and sought out treatment for alcohol and substance abuse. The band eventually reunited with Fried and in November 2025 returned with their fifth full-length album, Ultrasound. ~ Matt Collar