 Sonafield
"Operations of the Unseen" CD
Self-released
Genres: alt rock, indie rock, modern rock
Aug 25 - 31 2003 |
Sonafield
are a modern rock band from Seattle who record songs of the
alternative rock sort - music that's infectious enough to penetrate
mainstream radio, but probably won't because of a lack of major label
publicity. Their debut album (following a couple of compilation
appearances) is Operations of the Unseen, a ten song taste of
independent rock similar to that of Lucy's Fur Coat. We can
only hope Sonafield won't fold after two records, though, as
this debut suggests a very promising future for the Seattle trio.
With that said, this album has its good moments and its not-so good
moments. "Gone" is a fine tune, with some nice riffs
characterizing the verse and a chorus that really feels like a gust of
fresh air. "Breathe" has a pleasingly loose
stream-of-consciousness vibe and really pumps up the volume on the
chorus, meanwhile "Beggars Day" is pure Lucy's Fur Coat,
with a slight touch of Americana present.
On the other hand, there are a few duds. "Melody of
Freedom," unfortunately the first track, sounds a bit too glossy
and bland; it's catchy, but sounds just like any random tune off of
"alternative" radio. It isn't a bad tune itself, but some
listeners might want a more inventive first track. "Speak,"
meanwhile, is too long for its own good; it might fall out of favor
with listeners due to its lengthy ending, which seems more suited to a
live show than repeated listening. "Perfect Love" also
suffers from being too lengthy; its droopy mood doesn't fare well over
nearly five minutes.
Altogether, Sonafield's Operations of the Unseen is a
solid album and one that may be worth picking up for fans of solid,
melodic rock. Don't expect anything out-of-the-ordinary, just let
yourself embrace the hooks.
83%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 10 tracks, distributed by the
band, released 2002] |
