Customer Reviews

Did Your Mother Tell You

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I haven't had a sound in my head and heart like this since the first time I heard the Buzzcocks.

The wife and I saw The Sun for the first time in Chicago on Monday 11/22/04. We had caught the "Valentine" video `bout a month earlier when we paused surfing for a split-second on The Fuse. From the opening riffs to the final chop edit, my jaw dropped as I watched what I knew to be "the greatest f***ing band in the world, right now."

I was so amazed that I immediately looked for as many online tracks as I could. What I heard jazzed me still further. With each track I heard new sounds, rhythms, structures: wall of sound; melodic ballads; dissonant guitar and vocal harmonies arcing above a charging, brain-pan rattling bass-line counterpoint; crash starts and double stops, whiplash micro-drum breaks... anything but the ordinary. I haven't heard such variety in chops in a small space since The Beatles White Album.

On their tracks they play tighter than conditions of poor white trash in a red state. Even when they play loose, there's an "I meant to do that" of someone pleasantly flaunting authority. I was hooked. The show was over far too soon. I awkwardly asked for the set list like a giddy teenager. When I presented it to my wife she clapped her hands like little kid. "Fantastic!" she gushed, "they are fantastic! And adorable! Can we adopt them?"

We have 3 kids and our rockin' 7 year old walks around the house saying "my favorite band is The Sun."

We tell all our friends about the Sun, some of whom are old farts like us. Usually, when we hear a new band, I'm always thinking about what older bands sound their channeling or just flat ripping off. But these guys got a sound! I keep thinking I'm hearing stuff that reminds me of other bands with real sounds and energy: Stooges; DMZ, Beach Boys, Cramps, XTC, Simon & Garfunkel, Joy Division, The Jam, Kiss...
But The Sun is evocative, never imitative.

By chance I first heard the Sun's song, "Valentine," and was totally digging it, so I went and picked up the entire EP "Did Your Mother Tell You?". Let me just say, it's wonderful. It goes from being loud, full of rock and energy, to quiet folky songs. For just an EP, this body of work has a great amount of variety. The best part: it's all fantastic, catchy [but not to the point of insanity] and wonderfully written. I'd definitely check out this EP and watch out for the full length!