Fat Possum
If a ’60s retro vibe with raw contemporary edges is your thing then look no further than San Francisco-based quartet Sonny and the Sunsets a group that channels everything from early Beach Boys doo-wop and even Country Joe and the Fish. Indeed the group is versed in those well-worn sounds but it develops a style all its own worthy especially on tunes such as “Death Cream” “Planet of Women” and “Love Among Social Animals.”
But while the band approaches its craft with fresh-faced energy the vocals aren’t always the strongest. “Bad Vibes and Evil Thoughts” for example has instrumentals outweighing Sonny’s singing. “Too Young to Burn” meanwhile is strongly layered with the vocals at the front and centre. But as evidenced on tracks such as “Lovin’ on an Older Gal” and “Strange Love” the lyrics veer towards the wry and clever and this is certainly a release warranting multiple listens if for its stories alone.
