This haunting, spacious rock music may be as theatrical as Jonathan Berlin’s last major project, St. Augustine’s Bernard, when performed live with former Bernard drummer Jared Bowser, but the music on this six-song EP plays perfectly, even without the cinematic display. Somewhere between Postal Service and Radiohead, this album easily transcends any expectation you might have for local music. In fact, this is the sort of album that could get you into a serious relationship. Go pick up a girl at the Pearl (preferably one that likes Coldplay and Radiohead, but just adores Snow Patrol and Interpol) and play this EP on the way to the afterparty. She won’t believe her ears and she won’t believe you when you say they are local. She’ll be yours until you show her a band that sucks (or that is just totally dude rock).
Having said that, let me clear a few things up about this album. Although I wouldn’t categorize it as dude rock (that would be something more Queens of the Stone Age or Tomahawk), it is far more engaging than the boring balladeers of the Coldplay and Snow Patrol set. I’ve been referring to Sunbears! as a “they,” which is true during their live performaces, but this EP was recorded by Jonathan alone. And his talent reverberates through the catchy lyrical hooks on songs such as ‘Stars’ and in intoxicating instrumental hooks as on ‘It’s Too Late.’ The drums alone will pull you into ‘We Are Blind.’ ‘Lovely Little Anecdotes’ is so expertly crafted and recorded, it is hard to imagine what else Sunbears! could possibly do to grab the attention of a formidable label.
All of the songs are also rich with a rhythmic and electronic sort of creativity that is a little baffling. Every time this EP teeters on the edge of seeming grossly trite, the song shifts to something so surprising that it wins you back again and makes you believe that perhaps the part before wasn’t even as trite as you thought. It hypnotizes you after-the-fact. Somewhere in this shoegazer pop rockscape, there is a hint of avant-garde.
If you can’t stand croony two-piece rock bands that only feature keyboards, drums, and electronics, then you should avoid Sunbears! in spite of how brilliant they are. But if you love to have that exciting new album that few people have heard, buy For Everyone and put ‘We Are Blind’ or ‘Stars’ on a couple of those mix CDs you make for girls. It’ll work. For a while. Let’s hope that Jonathan and Jared don’t take too long recording a full length so that you can keep her around for a while. Six songs can get tired pretty fast, no matter how good they are.
Article Published in the May 2008 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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