Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Smalltown Poets - Under The New Sun

Prophets, Priests, and Kings by Smalltown Poets is a great song and when I heard it for the first, I loved it. Like most of those mid to late-90's Forefront Records alternative releases, Smalltown Poets debut became a record I would spin endlessly. I rediscovered the rest of the band's discography a couple years back and fell in love with each record.

When the band announced their return and released a Christmas record (which has a fantastic version of In The Bleak Mid Winter) I was stoked. And a year after their return with the Christmas record we have a new Smalltown Poets ep.

Under The New Sun isn't really different from the band's previous work. Oh sure, there are some new and different elements but it's still a Smalltown Poets album. The title track and album opener are the most perplexing to me. It's an instrumental piece, that's cool, but is something you wouldn't expect from Smalltown Poets and feels a little out of place on the album. It doesn't set the stage for anything experimental or prepare you for a huge shift in sound from the band. It's just... An interesting instrumental piece to open the record. Not bad... Just unexpected.

Turn Around has some spanish flair in the acoustic guitar intro before busting into a super catchy chorus. Charlie Brown's Lament is classic Smalltown Poets all the way. It's warm and familiar and a great song. Grace Is A Song is more of what fans heard on the christmas album, an indie rock side of the band. It's subtle, but it's there. Jesus, I Come the ballad of the album (there's always one) and like every track before it, and every after, has a strong hook. The Ballad Of Time and Eternity is another great rock song before the album ends with I'll Fly Away.

Smalltown Poets first official new music since their return is perfect. A mix of some subtle new elements while keep the band's classic rock sound. An ep fans will love!




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