It would smack of rock-critic laziness to dub Sunny So Brite as "The Radiohead of the American South," but I'll do so anyway. That title is so fitting for the group that anybody who actually hears "The New American Century" album would easily agree. Back in the early '70s, this would've been described as progessive rock. The first time playing the record was a disorienting experience; there didn't seem to be hooks one could readily grasp.
The songs have a smoky, psychedelic haze that takes listeners into a warped alternate reality. The group plays with - rather than plays - its instruments, making them sound bent out of shape, twisting notes, creating weird noises while much of the vocals are whispered or mumbled.
It wasn't until the fifth track, "Holiday," that a distinguishable groove appeared, but these lads create mesmerizing soundscapes that are less high-tech than Radiohead yet still occupy a different frame of mind.
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"Secrets Under Scars" not only has the best title of any tune on the CD, it's the "catchiest" song with its sinister riffs and relatively clear vocals. "Make Your Mind Up (Canada)" displays another more accessible side to Sunny So Brite.
Just give it time. "The New American Century" takes a couple of spins before you can decipher its puzzles; when you do, it's an intellectually rewarding accomplishment that'll have you yearning for another fix.
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