Common Ground

Sunset Black | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 27, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bieler Bros. Records
• ASIN: B00006GFBU
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,153 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Standing

2. The Wait

3. Timing Is Reason

4. Next In Line

5. This Place

6. Drowning

7. Silent Regrets

8. You're Beraking

9. You Pretend

10. Empty Promises

11. What I Do

12. Last Song

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uncommon Sound, November 10, 2003

By 

Geoffrey S. Hineman (Traverse City, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Common Ground (Audio CD)

A quick preview of this disc leaves you with the impression that Sunset Black is another garage-based punkish band that listened to a lot of Bad Religion. Further listens really open up a catchy disc that really shows more maturity than most contemporary punk these days.

I use the term punk loosely when referring to this disc. Instead of punk rock, Sunset Black could be considered more of a rock-punk band, calling forth hints of the Goo Goo Dolls, Husker Dü, and Smashing Pumpkins. The one thing that all of those bands share, of course, is the ability to craft songs rather that mindlessly bash out power chords. Sunset Black is of the same mind.

Another band from the Midwest-and there certainly seems to be a slew of them emerging in the last few years (i.e. Slipknot, Disturbed, Taproot, blah, blah, blah)-Sunset Black sheds the shtick that goes with the coastal music communities, delivering a more honest, perhaps more heartfelt and sincere album. They are like the Garrison Keillor of rock and roll, spitting out big hooks and honest lyrics from the outskirts of Lake Wobegon.

While Florida nu-meddlers, Nonpoint, have openly proclaimed their support and appreciation of Sunset Black and taken them out on tour, they just don't fit in with that crowd. In fact, there have been handful of newer bands like Trapt, Pressure 4-5, Alien Ant Farm, Papa Roach in a pinch, that Sunset Black would be better suited to tour with.

Does it bowl you over at first listen? No. Second listen? Maybe not even then. But what these guys offer, that seems to be missing from much corporate rock, is something new to be discovered on each listen. Mature beyond their debut years, these lads. I would like to say that Sunset Black will bust out with their next album, but sadly, I don't think it will happen. This band is on the verge of being radio friendly, but not quite enough and that has been the kiss of death for many a band, because when you're hard to define, you become easier to dismiss.

I like 'em. In an effort to support indie rock, so should you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drowing in circles., August 8, 2004

By 

W. C Hooker "yeah, no need for one of those here" (um. everywhere.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Common Ground (Audio CD)

I have to give a huge Kudos to my friend Aaron in Thornton, CO for hooking me up on these guys. This band is one of those word-of-mouth bands that seems to have that old axiom "word-of-mouth is the best advertisement" working very well in their favor. I can't really call these guys punk although they have some of that flair in their sound. It's just very minute, which I can handle because I am not a fan of punk.

No offense to you punk fans out there, I respect it, I just don't prefer it.

These air raids that are the guitar walls of this band just drilled me to the core. I was extremely impressed and am still awaiting the second release due out sometime this year I think.

Pick it up, you'll see what I'm waiting on.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gets better with each listen, May 17, 2003

By 

M. Parker (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Common Ground (Audio CD)

When I first picked this CD up, it was mostly based on word of mouth, because I hadn't actually heard this band. Normally I tend to make a habit of listening to at least a few songs before I lay down well-earned cash for it, but I felt something different with Sunset Black.

After hearing the first track, "Standing," I was intrigued. Their sound has an appealing mainstream-accessible edge, but not to the point of unabashed aim for the most airtime on the radio. These guys are clearly in it for the music, as their lyrics strongly proclaim.

"Next In Line" is probably my favorite few minutes on this release, with its great hook and emotionally-driven chorus. "This Place" is an interesting aggro-ballad, while "Silent Regrets" and "You Pretend" will win the hearts of emo-rock enthusiasts. But, this isn't stereotyped emo-kid pop; these lyrics about self-development and keeping the things in your life that matter most suggest a much more worldly view.

The beautiful "You're Breaking," the heartfelt "What I Do," and the mini-epic "Last Song" round out the disc into a mature, emotional, hard-rocking debut album from a band whose potential is limitless.