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It’s a crazy new decade, and the new generation of rock and roll children just
don’t know how to mellow out anymore. Back in the ‘70s you could relax to some
Bread or the Carpenters. In the ‘80s you had Air Supply. The ‘90s, of course,
brought us the mellow-mellow vibes of Lisa Loeb. But now, in the new millennium,
what can you chill to? Everyone’s searching for it, yet no one’s finding it. The
days of Zamfir being peddled on TV are over, my friends, so instead here is an
elixir you may find most comforting in those times when your ears just need to
breathe deeply. Yes, it is the Elected, with their mellow pop goodness of
Sun, Sun, Sun.
This band is fronted by Mr. Blake Sennett who knows a thing or two about the
more rustic travels of making tunes. Performing in the group Rilo Kiley, he’s
made a bit of a name for himself doing a variation on a semi lo-fi charming type
of indie rock. With the Elected, the sound is more lush and shimmering. A nice
varnish on top of delicate harmonies and serene melodic journeys that are this
side of the Beach Boys and that side of pathos. You can hear it right from the
start on the first short track, “Clouds Parting (8:14 A.M.),” a little taster of
what’s to come.
Listening to Sun, Sun, Sun, I was reminded of a couple other bands and
artists. The first was E, as in the former “A Man Called E” and the current
leader of the Eels. Songs like “Fireflies in a Steel Mill” and “Not Going Home”
have that winsome, pretty quality that E brought to the table on his terrific
debut album, A Man Called E, recalling the charm of a song like “Are You
and Me Gonna Happen?” The other group that came to mind was one you’ve perhaps
not heard of named Champale, who are also keen on striking up a lush arrangement
or two with horns and slightly pastoral sounds, as on a song like “Motel
California.” In the Elected’s case, that sound would be struck upon in “Would
You Come With Me” and “Sun, Sun, Sun.”
It’s all very nice and quite pleasant to the ears, but if there’s one problem
with the album it’s that it’s perhaps a little too mellow. Not too mellow like
an early Eagles album, but coming within a striking distance of that. Some folks
really enjoy that sort of thing, and there is plenty to like on the disc, but it
would also be nice to hear the Elected get a little punchier with it as well
from time to time instead of just completely relaxing. It’s one of those
situations where you feel like all the songs start running together and there
isn’t much to distinguish themselves from one another.
Still, we can’t fault the band overall for doing what they do, and surely a song
such as “Beautiful Rainbow” really works a special kind of magic when you hear
it. Sun, Sun, Sun might not be the most eclectic sounding album out
there, but the Elected have definitely created a formula that works. They would
have fit in rather nicely back in the ‘70s, right between some Boz Scaggs and
Foghat.
~Jason Thompson
jthompson@bullz-eye.com
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