4 out of 5

Label: Rock Proper (free download – The Sun self released)

Produced by: Mike McCarthy

After the rollicking rock of Blame It On the Youth and its preceding EPs, it can take a while for ‘Don’t Let…’ to sink in.  The long wait (from 2005 to 2009) sets some expectations of course, which are tempered by the album being self-released – a difficult-to-interpret sign, but one that suggests the band’s sales didn’t merit another Warner release – or, as it comes to mind when the first few tracks burble through your headphones or speakers, that maybe the group just couldn’t settle on material that felt strong enough.

The low mastering and somewhat flat production on the album doesn’t help sway this impression: the guitar is tinny, and unless the drums are being smashed, they don’t sound too energetic – a far cry from the bombast producer John Goodmanson may have leant the group’s previous recording.  There’s also some jokey chatter inbetween a couple tracks, and an unfortunate belch after an unfortunate acoustic ditty at the end of track 9, ‘Goddess.’  The album starts to feel tossed off, and you get why it was free.  What happened to the terrifying blasts of punky pop and shouted vocals?

But once first impressions have passed, the more laid back vibe of the album reveals some pros: better, more varied songcraft, and more thoughtful lyrics.  I absolutely love the previous Sun releases, but the repetition of songs from the EPs to the full-length spoke, perhaps, of an inability to consistently produce more recordable work, and on album, the energy on which the group relies wears you after a while, at which point some tracks start to sound a bit generic.  Taking a break from trying to achieve stardom and dropping an album without expectations… may have resulted in a full 10 tracks of unique, catchy tunes.  Chris Burney is more patient in his delivery, and the group slowly works their way to break-out moments instead of running out of the gate at full speed.

And best of all – The Sun is still there.  This isn’t a different band.  The old-school pop vibe that was more apparent on the EPs is in full sing-along force here, and once your ears have adjusted to the recording, you start hearing that energy again.

True, I could’ve done without the belch, and the album is lacking in any breakout single, but on the whole, it makes for a more repeatable, durable listening experience.