Youth is only ever fun in retrospect is a phrase that rings true for many of us — but hindsight is always 20/20.

The British indie scene has always been a place to look for exciting and cutting-edge developments in pop music. I’m not currently enamored with the some of the new faces replacing the Libertines and Maccabees, like The 1975, Blossoms, and Catfish and The Bottlemen, but there’s no doubt that these bands are paving the way for a new British rock-pop sound.

Following in the tradition of those new British indie-pop bands comes Reading four piece Sundara Karma. The group has existed for a few years, periodically releasing a couple singles and EPs. Their debut album, Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect, was released on January 6.

The album is a noble full-length attempt marked by skillful musicianship and a good understanding of traditional pop song structure. They combine a sense of youthful recklessness and a fresh understanding of the world with beats that belong in the club, evidenced by opening track “A Young Understanding” and “Olympia.” While poppy melodies characterize the record, standout track “Happy Family” starts out quiet and brooding, then launches into disco hedonism.

The record is a solid first try for the group, but does miss the mark in a few areas. “Happy Family,” while fun, is a good four minutes too long and can’t decide if it wants to be a slow jam or a dance floor anthem. My advice would be to either chop it up into two parts, or give the song more of an identity by cutting it into a two-minute song or four-minute song. That said, it does show that Sundara Karma is more than just another iteration of The 1975.

Vocalist and guitarist Oliver Lulu also attempts to showcase his intellectual chops by presenting himself as the jaded teenager who’s well-versed in Shakespeare (“Loveblood”) and Oscar Wilde, already weary in the ways of the world. Occasionally, his lyrics sound stilted, and at their worst, recall the cringe-worthy phrases from Morrissey’s List of the Lost (“Vivienne”; “Be Nobody”). At times, Lulu ventures into Eastern philosophy, but this comes off more as pandering and fetishizing of Eastern values and religions than intellectual. “Lose the Feeling” speaks to that teen angst we love, but at times loses itself in its imagined headiness.

The biggest issue with Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect isn’t the lyrical content, however. The record sounds really expensive and big, which makes sense if your group is trying to fit the current sonic aesthetics of the British indie scene. The overly lush production, combined with weak lyrics, is what prevents the album from reaching its full potential.

Sundara Karma does present themselves as a more intellectual, deeper group than the reigning British indie bands. Overall, the record is enjoyable, pleasant, but wallows in nostalgia and predictable teen angst. It’s a good start for the burgeoning British group, but their young understanding of the world and life may need a little more time to develop and mature. Dropping the pretentiousness would be a good first start.