REVIEW: Sunset Valley, Boyscout Superhero (Sugar Free)
- Wes Long
Picture Steve McQueen and Arthur Fonzarelli cruising Santa Monica Boulevard in a sweet assed midnight blue mid 70's convertible muscle car with music amalgamating the hurricane swagger of The Pixies and the goofy sensibilities of early 80's proto punk pop pumping out from behind the grills of its speakers. The perfect soundtrack to the scene, ballsy tunes befitting slicker than thou McQueen and campy songs for the ultra goofy cool Fonzie. Sunset Valley's Boyscout Superhero is that soundtrack.
There aren't many artists that can send you a flowergram of a song like "Fairy Theory": "Your sunset smile is flawless / a tooth reflection galaxy / a croquet matchbox miracle / you tiptoe through mint juleps", then suddenly switch masks and crank out murky testosterone laden pop of the highest order. Herman Jolly, Sunset Valley's brains and voicebox, can and does on the Oregon band's sophomore effort.
"I Got Fair" and "Megapills" are megacool, vibrating with the same electricity that powered The Breeders "Cannonball", with heavily geeked out "Stay Hungry" era David Byrne-ish vocals and tilt-a-whirl happy grooves that will greedily bore themselves a nest in your head.
It's on songs like "Tornado", "Jackass Crusher" and "Solid Goldmine" (which smacks of a bravado laden Devo fed on a steady diet of steroids and Jawbox) that Sunset Valley really hit their collective stride. Good thing music isn't capable of dishing out deep bone bruises 'cause these tunes would put a man sized hurtin' on ya.
Sadly, we'd have to be able to suspend reality to create my ultra gear surreal landscape. Steve McQueen is dead and the Fonz has morphed into a middle aged and miles from cool Henry Winkler. The car and the tunes can be done though. If I were you, I'd start with the tunes.
Sunset Valley's Boyscout Superhero won't change your life, but it's likely to remind you why you fell in love with music in the first place. A 35 minute 31 second crash course in cool.
