Standing In The Sun - Standing In The Sun | ||
Tracks:
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Publicity shot: ![[Image]](../../Images/sitspostr.jpg) |
Label: Whole Track Entertainment Group Producers: SitS Year: 1998 Total Playing Time: 34:57 m:s Review date: 5 June 1999 |
| Web site: www.standinginthesun.com
Email: | ||
| Rating: 6.5 | ||
| Verdict: U2 inspired Pop. | ||
| There is something very familiar about the first track on this album. I'm reminded of U2 meeting Oasis, with a touch of Nirvana thrown in. Looking over their promotional material I see that they have been the opening act for U2. I'm sure they went down well with the U2 audience. Standing in the Sun describe themselves using the terms - "Standing in the Sun is marked by a provocative, jarringly powerful collection of songs that communicate all the freshness and feeling that an honest look into the soul can produce." A bit deep for those of us brought up on "hair metal" bands whose ambition was to party every night and rock & roll every day. On the first couple of listens the whole affair sounds a bit one-dimensional. Standing in the Sun has a distinctive sound running through their songs. The result is that on initial listens the songs merge into one and individual tunes don't stand out. On closer inspection there are subtle differences for the listener to discover. "Standing in the Sun" is just over 7 mins long and I'm sure the band will wonder where I'm coming from on this but it makes me think about veteran rockers Hawkwind. It doesn't necessarily sound like them, but if they ever decided to get all trendy then I get the feeling it might turn out something like this. "See It Somehow" sees the band sounding like Skunk Anansie. It could be the name of the track, but "Magazine" makes me think of the new wave act of the same name. "River Wide" drifts out the silence to become my favourite tune. It is another of those U2 meets Oasis sounding tracks. The album finishes off with a punk/new wave tune called "Falling From Me". Standing in the Sun have clearly found a style of playing that they are happy with, which lends them a touch of individuality and which gives a sense of continuity between the songs. The result is an album where individual songs don't matter that much & you've got to immerse yourself in the rhythm of the album and let the guitars buzz around you to obtain maximum enjoyment. Anyway, that is how it works for me. I'm happy to listen to this for the 35 mins running time, but I'd like to see a bit more variety if the experience was to extend beyond that. This is one for the pop generation out there. A higher rating might be more forthcoming from a more pop orientated web site, but I think the 6.5 rating reflects how most Mood Swings visitors would regard this. Before I go I'll just say that the band have put a fair amount of effort into their web site and it is well worth popping over to check it out. | ||
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