Artist: Finch
Album: Say Hello to Sunshine
Label: Geffen Records
Rating:
Reviewer: John Frank

Every once in a while I come across an album that I really can’t say much about. Generally this is due to an album that is sub-par; however, in the case of “Say Hello to Sunshine”, the opposite is true. This is the type of album that I wish more bands would produce. While Finch had success with their debut release, they did not simply follow the same formula to make a sophomore album. Instead of focusing on sing-along choruses like “Letters to You”, the emphasis in this album is clearly on the instruments. The album has a much more raw sound to it, and the vocals are not as harmonized as the previous release.

The opening song “Insomniatic Meat” begins with a machine gun like roll of the drums and a much slower, deeper vocal than is expected. This is very good to hear. Too often a band will become predictable and monotonous with their songs, trying not to deviate too far from what has worked in the past. I could go through each song and point out its strengths and why it adds to the album as a whole, but I don’t think it is really necessary with this disc. The pace of this album is very consistent. That is not to say every song is the same speed, but oftentimes what happens with albums is that the band will throw in some slower songs at the wrong points, and completely unbalance the rhythm. This is one of those albums that you listen to the entire way through, not just pick a few songs and skip the rest. Every song on here is good, with a few being excellent. Songs that I think will be stand out tracks or crowd favorites are “Insomniatic Meat”, “Piece of Mind”, “Ink”, “A Man Alone”, and “The Casket of Roderic Usher”.

I doubt there are really any big radio hits on this album, and some fans of the “What It Is to Burn” album may not be thrilled with the new sound, but overall this album is a big improvement for the band. The sound is harder, faster, rawer, and just better. These songs will definitely be accepted at a live show, as they have the energy needed for that environment. This is by far one of the best albums of the year so far, and will likely be a summer favorite for many people. Whether you liked their last album or not, “Say Hello to Sunshine” is an album that is a must listen to for the summer.