Customer Reviews

Sonos Sings

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This group is extraordinary. Every cut on this album is an "A side" work of art. I recently saw Sonos live at their album release performance which took place at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, and the show was stunning - filled with personality, humor and action, but most of all, killer harmonies and incomparable arrangements. This is simply wonderful music. Sonos has taken a dip into the rich pool of music found in the uber hip indie scene and applied their vocal magic to create reinventions of the originals that will paint elaborate images in your mind. This music points to the fact that composers of wonderful music may not necessarily be the best performers of their creations. (Think of Burt Bacharach's performances versus Dionne Warwick's interpretations of his music.) The rich, complex, dynamic arrangements created by Sonos in this album beg for another listen, and another , and another. The best way to appreciate what they have done is to buy the album and immerse yourself in their world. If you ever have the opportunity to see them live, don't miss it.

What a refreshing new band! In the land of overly-produced music that is nothing but computers, I love that they are creating everything with pure vocal talent. Definitely a fun buy for fans of the original artist. I can only imagine the original artists are hugely flattered and impressed. It will be perfect for party mixes, because the songs are conversation piece as well as entertainment. I am very happy with this purchase and wish this group all the success in the world.

I've been a fan of this group for a while, having seen them live several times. This album blows me away. It's interesting, gorgeous, eclectic (but not in a you can't listen to the whole thing at once kind of way), and to be slightly cheesy, it's joyous. I like that you can hear personality all through it, aka, it's not overproduced like so much out there is these days. I definitely recommend this!

During a recent visit to a local music store I was totally captivated by a new CD that was being heavily promoted in the store. I cannot tell you how long it has been since I have been so impressed with a brand new CD. So when I asked the clerk what was playing he told me it was a new release by a group called Sonos. I hung around longer than I intended just to hear the rest of the album. The simple fact of the matter that "SONOSings" simply blew me away.

Now I have been a huge fan of group harmony for years but being a bit older I was totally unaware of the current craze for a cappella groups on college campuses. I also knew practically nothing about the hit TV "Glee" either. The fact that younger people are digging group harmony these days comes as a most unexpected and pleasant surprise to me. Sonos is a Los Angeles based
a capella sextet that is certainly not afraid to be adventurous. It seems to me that they are taking group harmony to a whole new level. Perhaps this is the reason that I am having such a difficult time accurately describing their sound. On some tunes they sound like a doo wop group while on other songs the sound could more accurately be compared to that of a choir. Absolutely incredible for a group of only six!

Since I am a creature of habit I usually enjoy hearing familiar tunes. But on "SONOSings" there was really only one tune I was even remotely familiar with. Sonos' rendition of the Jackson 5's debut single "I Want You Back" can only be described as stunning! A totally unique take on this venerable tune! I loved it! Meanwhile, I enjoyed just about everything I heard on this disc. I would most especially recommend for your consideration "Come Here Boy", "Oh! What A World" and "White Winter Hymnal". That one might just be my favorite tune on the entire album. If Sonos is this good on record I can only imagine what it would be like to see them in concert! If you would like to learn more about Sonos you can check out the website [...]. Very highly recommended!

...I have to listen to SONOSings! These are amazing songs given amazing new dimension by a group of real artists. It's clear they love the music they create--fans taking something inspiring and adding new dimension. What I love about this disc is the diversity of texture--sometimes soft and lilting, other times sharp and crunchy. Bon Iver's "Re:Stacks" keeps its fragile beauty but expands with deep harmony. The Bird & the Bee's "Again & Again" carries the original's buoyant playfulness while adding a tangible edge to the harmony. Depeche Mode, Bjork, Radiohead, Imogen Heap, Rufus Wainwright--what great starting places they have chosen, and what great new avenues they explore. They mine the hidden sadness and longing in the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" with a startling and revelatory effect. I can't wait to hear more!

Don't really like acappella music usually, however I heard their cover of Radiohead and was really impressed. Great song choices on here and they don't sound overreaching or corny like a lot of acappella groups and especially "mouth drumming" does. Not typical at all!

I love this CD. I can't stop listening to it. The melodies are cathartic and the harmonies make me wish I had even a tiny bit of talent like theirs. Such talented artists. And they all come together beautifully. Some of the most gorgeous songs I have ever listened to. BUY IT!!!!

Gorgeous a cappella, complemented in several tunes by electronic manipulation of the voices. Electronic percussive effects may also be layered in. But mainly an amazing mix of 3 male and 3 female voices. Songs are apparently covers of recent pop songs, many with strong R&B elements in the melodies. Words are typically banal in the extreme. I know only one of the songs. It doesn't matter. The CD is a dazzling display of a cappella styles. A lush texture that blends all voices so that no individual brush marks can be perceived dominates and might be called the most characteristic element of their style. Textures shift repeatedly without repeating--ever engaging. Effects shift. The overall effect is for all tracks to run together even though each is different--so much going on (cf. Minimalism; this will grow on me). This is serious--no gimmick or novelty songs, just frothy pop and R&B from the radio. Stand outs: tr 1--Re: Stacks. Characteristic. Lower voices form a firm foundation on which brighter elements execute intricate gymnastics, all without individual voices separating from the pack. tr 12--White winter hymnal. Heavenly highlight of tenor/soprano voices flying up together with resonances from a medieval church. Amazing.

Sonos's first album is so great I can't wait for the second one to come out.
Their interpretation and arrangement of each song is often an improvement on the original. Covering artists from Bjork to The Jacksons to Fleet Fox, Sonos's sound is sexy and modern. Go see them live if you can.

I heard Sonos being interviewed on NPR. In the interview, they sang their darker, and more haunted version of "I want you back"...I bought this cd the next day. I like the other songs on the cd, but "I want you back" is my favorite...