A Valley Son
Sunset Park
Reviewed By: Lauren Rosier
For a band that’s barely a year old, Brooklyn’s A Valley Son sound like seasoned musicians. The band’s polished, yet rough around the edges, roots-y vibe fits in well in multiple genre scenes with a knack for great storytelling abilities.
The opening track, “In The Low Light of The Late Afternoon,” tells a story about two males, Johnny and Sammy. Johnny was found “...naked on the bathroom floor/begging for his mom/I’m sorry Johnny/but your mom’s/she’s been gone for the years…” while “…Sammy hit a guy/yeah, now he’s got a gun/he says don’t worry, it ain’t loaded/I’m just having a little fun…”
The four-piece, comprised of three Southern transplants and a Yonkers native, has components of a band ready to make huge waves in the indie folk/Americana scene with elements similar to Conor Oberst’s Cassadaga record.
The catchy first single, “Lights In The Sky,” is bound to get stuck in your head in the most positive way possible. It has an introduction that slowly increases its tempo into a solid rock song with elements that are reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen.
In the second single, “Dark Places,” the band channels indie roots-based rocker M. Ward through its vocal delivery, catchy melodies,, and solid musicianship. The guitars are solid, loud, and rocking, offering a glimpse of what their live show would be like.
Their music is a mix of indie rock with very strong elements of roots-based rock, folk, and Americana. A Valley Son is definitely a solid four-piece that seems to have things in place for continuous, future success.
Rating: Bad-Ass
