Sonny and the Sunsets
Moods Baby Moods
Reviewed by: Adelie Salagnac
“I’m curious to see just how many times I’ve listen to the new Sonny & the Sunset track ‘Moods’. It’s. That. Good”, was said in SF Weekly, while Stereogum used the words “Idiosyncratic…delightfully quirky, unorthodox sounds jutting into infectious grooves.”
I anxiously decided to finally listen to Sonny & the Sunsets brand new album, Moods Baby Moods. After reading such amazing reviews, I was torn between getting excited, and trying to not get my hopes up. Fortunately, as soon as the record started playing I knew I was not going to be disappointed.
Sixth full-length album for the West Coast natives, Sonny & the Sunsets, Moods Baby Moods is one strange, peculiar, one-of-a-kind piece of work, just as well-written and thought-through than the band’s previous releases. It cleverly blends beach pop, funk, new wave. The perfect summer vibe. Intricate lyrics, darker themes, and vibrant, lighthearted instrumentation are all mixed up together to form a confused and confusing record, making it not-so-accessible to a large portion of casual music listeners, yet very enjoyable for those who are prone to bizarrerie and unusualness.
With Moods Baby Moods, Sonny & the Sunsets’ work left me quite fascinated. One cannot deny the idiosyncratic charm arising from the album and from the band’s work in general. I couldn’t help but be drawn into their twisted universe, and decided to delve into their discography, as I unfortunately didn’t know a lot about their history – what a shame, I know.
Frontman Sonny Smith is, without a doubt, a great songwriter and storyteller, each song as creative and different than the other. Moods Baby Moods is described as Smith’s “search for purpose in the cruel realities of the modern age” and the contrast between the darker themes and lyrics, and the more upbeat note of the melodies are quite interesting – almost as if Smith was purposely saying that his record makes no sense, just as life.
Once again, Moods Baby Moods might be confusing at times, and some songs might come out as messy sketches. It is not aimed at everyone, but it is indeed a very fun, compelling record that showcases Smith’s talent and distorted, puzzling world. And now, I am curious to know how many times I’ve listened to the track ‘Moods’, too. Because, yes, I do agree. It is THAT good.
Rating: Bad-Ass
