steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Shuteye Unison

Self-titled CD

Parks and Records

Genre: indie rock, shoegazer

San Francisco, CA

Dec 3, 2008

Out on the socially responsible Parks and Records label, Shuteye Unison's debut is packaged in 100% recycled/reused packaging, and a percentage of its sales goes to several environmental foundations. Neat stuff for sure, but the real good news is that the music is pretty damn good. This trio, formerly known as The Rum Diary, plays epic, expansive indie rock that is remarkably engaging. Shoegazey "Tomorrow's Five Horizons" reminds me of top-line The Brother Kite material, while nine minute dream-rock epic "Through Dunes" is beautifully lush and sprawling. "Fields Landing," meanwhile, is closer in spirit to Three Mile Pilot's damaged rock dirge (they share their producer with 3MP), and "Slow Ravens" is loose and unwound. A dreamy mini-album that is uniformly solid, Shuteye Unison's debut provides a memorable dose of inventive indie rock. Keep an eye out for these guys.

shuteye unison's myspace

84%

youuuuuuuutube!: "fields landing" live, "through dunes" live

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 6 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2008]