Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

I hate it when I find out about something cool that’s been right under my nose forever without my having been aware of it. Usually, it’s a restaurant or something I pass by regularly, and never thought to stop in, but in this case, it’s a band called, Sunspot, that I’d never managed to notice until I saw mention of the “Madison, WI-based” band in the upper New York-based music-reviewer.com’s virtual stockroom.

The band is apparently pretty well regarded around these parts, but somehow, I’ve completely missed out on their brand of humorous power- pop-punk, or as they put it, “arena rock for geeks.” All parts of those descriptions are on ample display on the band’s latest CD, Neanderthal, but for me, the success of this band starts with its lyrics. That's a strange statement coming from someone like me, who is usually fixated on the music, and pays attention to lyrics only secondarily. But, Sunspot seems to be a band with stories to tell, that just happen to be set to music. There's a tale wrapped up in each track on Neanderthal, some awkward, some touching, and the album works as much for witty wordplay as for the band's musicianship.

Goodbye Good Guy gets the disc off to a rousing start, talking about a guy who’s more than overdue to start looking out for #1. Set to a chugging power pop soundtrack, the song sets the table for a fun ride through the disc's 8 tracks. Eat Out My Heart displays a wry humor that is also a band trademark. Its storyline revolves around a poor schlub trying to hide a broken heart behind a “Barenaked Ladies”-style façade, “I hope you have an ugly boyfriend/I hope you’re working at a carwash.” The protagonist reveals his wounded soul at the end, declaring, “I’m too numb too care.”

My favorite song on the disc comes in the form of the title track, Neanderthal, which takes a shot at video game worlds, in which "...raping a hooker/or popping a cop/or pushing a handi/right out of his wheelchair,” take place without repercussions. Mike Huberty sets the tone with a danceable bassline to get the track started, with Ben Jaeger bringing a sly guitar line to the mix. It really gets good after the second iteration of the chorus, with Huberty breaking out a galloping Steve Harris-like bassline, over which Jaeger provides a solo that could fit right into a metal song. The outro brings the song to a stomping close, again inviting “Iron Maiden" comparisons.

Another highlight is Morgan Le Fay, the longest song on the album. Huberty lays down an eerie, stalking bassline, and belts out an emotion-charged vocal line over it. Sunspot’s penchant for multi-part vocals is indulged on the track, with drummer Wendy
Lynn Staats joining in the tragic chorus, “I’ve spent my life looking for the Savior/But He looks the other way.”

The vocal harmonies are probably best represented in, Mr. Foff, which tells of catching up to some random guy in some random band, who is still hanging around the scene though he may or may not still be in the band. The chorus is stripped down, allowing the vocals to shine, even as the rhythm demands that an audience clap along.

I could just go on, highlighting each song on the disc, because they all have something to recommend about them. Instead, I’ll just leave it at this: do yourself a favor and check out Sunspot on-line. Neanderthal, is a darn good time, wrapped up in a slim and shiny compact disc package.