New Sounds Like Sunset album
After a lot of hunting, I finally tracked down the new SLS album 'Invisible' at Leichardt JB Hi-fi.
It is pretty different from the debut. It has a much more live feel, with few overdubs or instruments apart from guitars, bass and drums. There is a little bit of organ, but certainly no drum samples or moog as on 'Saturdays'.
Production-wise, the guitars have a more abrasive feel, certainly a bit rougher with more top end. Still very nice noisey sounds though. We are also treated to a bit more guitar plucking and bona-fide second guitar parts than before, and believe it or not, some acoustic guitar!
Also (and perhaps this is the biggest downer on the album for me), the drum sounds are quite loose and hollow. Don't get me wrong, the drum parts are still great, but they do sound a bit ramshackle, and highlight just how great the drum and bass were tonally on 'Saturdays'.
The songs are a bit straighter too. A bit more repetetive melodically, and perhaps less dynamic structures. Still, there are some absolutely top-notch tunes.
'First Time' for me is really pushing to be their greatest song, an excellent riff, melody and stunning chorus.
'It's My Star' is a great ballad right up there with 'Someone Special' and 'Start Again'. It has some lovely arpeggios and a killer vocal arrangement.
'I Still Have Your Picture' features an awesome two-chord riff that has a real sense of power and movement.
'It's Alright' is a real sonic assault, but as always with this band, they manage to mix sweetness with noise so well.
'Losing Sleep' is first on the current double a-side single, and is perhaps one of the most radio-friendly songs. A real classic SLS progression, and top melody. I've heard this live a couple of times and am excited to have the recorded version.
'Expressway' is a droney atmospheric opener, that is perfectly suiting.
All in all, the album is less the conceptual soundscape of 'Saturdays', and more a collection of noise/rock songs, some great, some pretty good.
Really worth checking out, and still my favourite Sydney band by a long way, I'm really glad this finally saw the light of day.
Buy it and support them, because I highly doubt this will be their break-out album, even though they really deserve a whole heap of success.